Japan. Southwards it extends to Palestine, Asia Minor and Northern Persia.
The second group, which we may call the Indian cinereus group, is to be found through Southern Persia and North Arabia, throughout India and in a loop working North, including Afghanistan, Syr Daria and Amu Daria in Turkestan, Tianschan and Kashmir. East it is found through Burma and Southern China and the countries South of them. Between these two distinct groups we have more or less intermediate forms found in Tibet, Northern Shan States, and Central Asia.
Within Indian limits we have no form approaching the European Parus major major group, all our geographical races belonging to the grey cinereus group.
Key to Subspecies.
| A. |
No green on back.
|
| a. |
Upper and lower plumage darker; tail black on inner web with grey edge, and all grey on outer web. Wing 60 to 68 mm., tail 53 to 61 mm.
....................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................
|
P. m. cinereus, p. 74. |
| b. |
Paler; upper parts a pale clear blue-grey, under parts almost white, nuchal patch distinct and nearly white. Wing 68 to 75 mm., tail 52 to 63 mm.
....................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................
|
P. m. intermedius, p. 76. |
| c. |
Upper and lower parts darker, nuchal patch greyer and inconspicuous.
|
| a'. |
Larger; wing 70 to 79 mm., tail 60 to 70 mm.
....................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................
|
P. m. kaschmiriensis, p. 76. |
| b'. |
Smaller: wing 63 to 70 mm., tail 52 to 63 mm.
....................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................
|
P. m. planorum, p. 77. |
| d. |
Upper plumage as dark as cinereus; tail black on both webs with narrow grey edges. Wing 63 to 74 mm., tail 51 to 62 mm.
....................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................
|
P. m. mahrattarum, p. 77. |
| B. |
Some green on upper plumage.
|
| e. |
Upper parts and scapulars all olive-green; wing 66 to 79 mm., tail 66 to 74 mm.
....................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................
|
P. m. tibetanus, p. 78. |
| f. |
Green confined to extreme upper back; wing 61 to 68 mm., tail 53 to 61 mm.
....................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................
|
P. m. commixtus, p. 78. |
(51) Parus major cinereus.
The Indian Grey Tit.
Funis cinereus Vieill., Nouv. Dict. d'Hist. Nat., xx, p316 (1818) (Java).
Parus atriceps. Blanf. & Oates, i, p. 46.
Vernacular names. Ram-gangra (Bang.).
Description. Forehead, lores, crown, nape, chin, throat, breast, a band on either side the neck connecting the nape with the breast, and a band down the middle of the abdomen, black; cheeks
