Haematozoa of British birds. V. Redescription of Haemoproteus majoris (Laveran) from the great tit Parus major

Summary

Haemoproteus majoris, originally described by Laveran from Parus major in France but hitherto denied specific status, is redescribed from P. major in Great Britain and designated a valid species. H machlolophi de Mello (1935) of P. xanthogenys in India is considered to be a synonym of H. majoris. The occurrence and distribution of haemoproteids in other Paridae is briefly discussed.