Dr. Bryant, in his Notes on the Birds of Yarmouth, N. S., etc., mentions finding quite a number of this species on Big Mud Island, near that place. A pair of these birds with their young were seen by him near Yarmouth on the 3d of July. Their habits seemed to him identical with those of the Black-Cap. The young were fully grown and could fly with ease, yet their parents were so solicitous about their safety that he could almost catch them with his hand. Their notes appeared to him similar to those of our common species, but sharper and more filing, and can be readily imitated by repeating, with one’s front teeth shut together, the syllables tzēē-dēē-dēē-dēē.
Mr. Audubon found a nest of this Titmouse in Labrador. It was built in a decayed stump about three feet from the ground, was purse-shaped, eight inches in depth, two in diameter, and its sides an inch thick. It was entirely composed of the finest fur of various quadrupeds, chiefly of the northern hare, and all so thickly and ingeniously matted throughout as to seem as if felted by the hand of man. It was wider at the bottom than at the top. The birds vehemently assailed the party.
Mr. Ross, in notes communicated to the late Mr. Kennicott, mentions that specimens of this species were shot at Fort Simpson, October 13, in company with P. septentrionalis, and others were afterwards seen towards the mountains. The notes he describes as harsher than those of the septentrionalis. The Smithsonian museum contains specimens from Fort Yukon and Great Slave Lake, besides the localities already referred to. Mr. Dall found it the commonest Titmouse at Nulato, abundant in the winter, but not present in the spring.
The eggs of this species measure .56 by .47 of an inch, are of a rounded oval shape, and with a white ground are somewhat sparingly marked with a few reddish-brown spots. These are usually grouped in a ring around the larger end.
Psaltriparus, Bonap. Comptes Rendus, XXXI, 1850, 478. (Type, P. melanotis.)
Ægithaliscus, Cabanis, Museum Heineanum, 1851, 90. (Type, Parus erythrocephalus.)
Psaltria, Cassin, Ill. N. Am. Birds, 1853, 19.
Gen. Char. Size very small and slender. Bill very small, short, compressed, and with its upper outline much curved for the terminal half. Upper mandible much deeper than under. Tail long, slender, much graduated; much longer than the wings; the feathers very narrow. Tarsi considerably longer than the middle toe. No black on the crown or throat. Eyes white in some specimens, brown in others. Nest purse-shaped; eggs unspotted, white.
No bird of this genus belongs to the eastern portion of the United States. The three species may be defined as follows:—
A. Head striped with black on the sides.
P. melanotis. The stripes passing under the eye and uniting on the occiput. Hab. Eastern Mexico
B. No stripes on the head.
P. minimus. Back ashy; crown light brown. Hab. Pacific Province of United States … var. minimus.
Back and crown uniform ashy. Hab. Middle Province and southern Rocky Mountains of United States … var. plumbeus.
Parus melanotis, Hartlaub, Rev. Zoöl. 1844, 216. Pœcile melanotis, Bp. Consp. 1850, 230. Ægithaliscus melanotis, Cab. Mus. Hein. I, 1850, 1851, 90. Psaltria melanotis, Westermann, Bijd. Dierk. 1851, 16, plate. Psaltriparus melanotis, Bonap. C. R. XXXVIII, 1854.—Sclater, P. Z. S. 1858, 299.—Ib. 1864, 172 (City Mex.).—Salvin, Ibis, 1866, 190 (Guatemala).—Baird, Birds N. Am. 1858, 386, pl. liii, fig. 3; Review, 84. Psaltriparus personatus, Bonap. C. R. XXXI, Sept. 1850, 478.
Sp. Char. A black patch on each cheek, nearly meeting behind. Crown and edges of the wing and tail ash-gray; rest of upper parts yellowish-brown, lighter on the rump. Beneath whitish; anal region tinged with yellowish-brown. Length about 4 inches; wing, 1.90; tail, 2.30.
Hab. Eastern Mexico; south to Guatemala; Oaxaca (high region), Sclater. East Humboldt Mountains, Nevada? Ridgway.
Psaltriparus minimus.
29711 ♂
Habits. In regard to the specific peculiarities and the distinct individual habits of the members of this pretty little species, little is at present known. Its mode of nesting has not been observed, and no mention is made, by those who have met with it, of its peculiarities of song, nor have we any information in regard to any of its habits. Its geographical distribution, so far as ascertained, is from the south side of the valley of the Rio Grande of Mexico to Guatemala, and there is no reliable evidence of its crossing the United States boundary line, unless Mr. Ridgway is correct in his assurance that he saw it in the East Humboldt Mountains of Nevada, near Fort Ruby. It was first described from Guatemalan specimens. Mr. O. Salvin (Ibis, 1866, p. 190) states that on more than one occasion he observed what he believed to be this species, in the pine-woods of the mountains near Solola, and above the lake of Atitlan.
Parus minimus, Townsend, J. A. N. Sc. VII, ii, 1837, 190.—Aud. Orn. Biog. IV, 1838, 382, pl. ccclxxxii, figs. 5, 6.—Ib. Birds Am. II, 1841, 160, pl. cxxx. Pœcile minima, Bon. Consp. 1850, 230. Psaltria minima, Cassin, Illust. 1853, 20. Psaltriparus minimus, Bon. C. R. XXXVIII, 1854, 62.—Baird, Birds N. Am. 1858, 397; Review, 84.—Cooper & Suckley, P. R. R. Rep. XII, ii, 1859, 195.—Cooper, Birds Cal. 1, 48.
Sp. Char. Tail long, feathers graduated. Above rather dark olivaceous-cinereous; top and sides of head smoky-brown. Beneath pale whitish-brown, darker on the sides. Length about 4 inches; wing, 1.90; tail, 2.25.
Hab. Pacific coast of United States.
There is quite an appreciable difference between specimens of this species from Washington Territory and California; the latter are smaller, the under parts paler. In the series before us, however, we see no grounds for specific distinction.
Psaltriparus minimus.
Habits. This interesting little species was first added to our fauna by the indefatigable Mr. Townsend in 1837. It is abundant throughout the Pacific coast from Fort Steilacoom to Fort Tejon. Dr. Gambel found it exceedingly abundant both in the Rocky Mountains and throughout California. During the winter the otherwise cheerless woods were alive with the busy and noisy troops of these restless and industrious birds, gleaning their scanty fare in company with the Reguli, in every possible position and manner, from bush and tree. He describes their anxious solicitous search for food as quite curious. They kept up a continual twittering, and so intent were they in their employment that they appeared to lose sight of all danger, and it was by no means unusual to be so surrounded by a flock as almost to render it possible to catch them in the hand.
Dr. Cooper found this species abundant in Washington Territory, but never met with it north of the Columbia River. Dr. Suckley says it is quite common at Fort Steilacoom. He could not, however, detect any difference in its habits from those of other species of this family. He saw none in Washington Territory during the winter, and presumes they all migrate to the South, though the rufescens and the occidentalis are found there throughout the winter. Townsend, however, speaks of it as a constant resident about the Columbia River, hopping around among the bushes, hanging from the twigs in the manner of other Titmice, twittering all the while with a rapid enunciation resembling the words thshish tshist-tsee-twee.
Mr. Nuttall first observed their arrival on the banks of the Wahlamet River about the middle of May. They