AURIPARUS. 59 
AURIPARUS. 
Auriparus, Baird, Rev. Am. B. i. p. 85 (1864). (Type Agithalus flaviceps, Sundev.) 
This genus, which contains but a single species, seems most nearly allied to Ayithalus, 
differing from it in several points, especially in its short tarsi and its peculiar coloration. 
Mr. Lawrence, who described the bird, as well as Sundevall, placed it in the genus 
Conirostrum, a view which Dr. Coues* seems inclined to indorse. ‘The presence of 
the spurious primary, absent in Conirostrwm, seems to preclude this view of its 
affinities if this character is of the value usually attributed to it. Auriparus is at once 
distinguishable from all other American Paride by its slender acuminate bill. 
1. Auriparus flaviceps. 
AEgithalus flaviceps, Sundev. Gifv. Vet. Ak. Férh. vii. p. 129°. 
Psaltria flaviceps, Scl. P.Z. 8. 1856, p. 37°. 
Auriparus flaviceps, Baird, Rev. Am. B. i. p. 85°; Baird, Brew. & Ridgw. N. Am. B.i. p. 111°; 
Sennett, Pr. U.S. Nat. Mus. i. p. 121’; Merrill, Bull. U.S. Geol. Surv. iv. p. 6°. 
Conirostrum ornatum, Lawr. Ann. Lye. N.Y. v. p. 112, t.5. £17. 
Supra fuscus, alis et cauda obscurioribus; capite toto flavo, pileo antico et fronte aurantiacis; subtus sordide 
albidus flavido vix tinctus; rostro et pedibus nigris. Long. tota 3°7, alee 1:9, caudee 1°7, rostri a rictu 0°45, 
tarsi 0-55. (Descr. maris ex Cape San Lucas, Lower California. Mus. nostr.) 
Hab. Norv America, valleys of the Rio Grande ®® and Colorado 4, Lower California 4. 
—Mexico, El Paso (Emory *), Saltillo (Couch *). 
This pretty species is quite unknown in Southern and Central Mexico, but occurs in 
some numbers all along the northern frontier in the valleys of the Rio Grande and 
Colorado, being specially abundant at Cape San Lucas in Lower California’. It breeds 
throughout this district; and its curious large nest, which is described as being shaped 
something like a retort, has been noticed by most travellers in these regions. Except 
as regards its nesting-habits, accounts of this species are rather scanty; but it is 
described as having manners somewhat intermediate between those of the Tits and 
Warblers, being, at the same time, usually very shy. 
Fam, SITTIDZ. 
SITTA. 
Sitta, Linneus, Syst. Nat. i. p. 177 (1766). 
The genus Sitta comprises about sixteen species, whereof five are found in the conti- 
nent of North America; and of these, two enter our territory, being found in the high 
mountains of Southern Mexico. Of the Old-World species five are variously distributed 
throughout the Palearctic Region, and six are found in the Himalayas, India and 
Burmah, these last being the most highly-coloured of the genus, and one of them, 
* B. Col. Vall. i. p. 129. 
8* 
