Page:The Zoologist, 4th series, vol 2 (1898).djvu/150

118 Neither were we able to find them anywhere near Tring, doubtless from want of suitable localities; nor could we procure any more from our correspondents. There can, however, be no doubt that there are many suitable localities in England where this bird is found, and I hope ornithologists will look out for it, and procure some specimens in autumn, as soon after the moult as possible, for it is a pity to shoot any when they are in abraded dirty spring plumage, which in Tits is rather poor, as everybody knows.

More detailed accounts and figures of P. salicarius can be read in the 'Ornitholog. Jahrbuch,' vol. viii, Heft 2, and in the 'Journal für Ornithol.' 1897, no. 2 (April). These articles show that the forms of the Marsh Tits by no means form a chaos out of which it is too difficult to find a way, but that with some study they become a very clear group. The British specimens of P. salicarius, it may be added, differ a little from continental ones in being somewhat darker above, and having shorter wings; but more material will be necessary to decide about the constancy of these characters. In any case there is no doubt that another species, not a subspecies, must be added, as P. salicarius, Brehm, to the British list. As this species is a resident bird, and as all Marsh Tits are resident birds, there can be no doubt that the Willow Tit, as this bird may appropriately be called, will be found all the year round in suitable localities in Great Britain and perhaps in Ireland.