IQO NORTH AMERICAN BIRDS. 



neath white, tinged with pale brownish-white on the sides. Outer tail-feathers, primaries, 

 and secondaries broadly edged with white, involving nearly the whole outer web of outer 

 tail-feather. Tail much graduated ; the outer feather about .50 of an inch shorter than 

 the middle. Second quill about as long as tlie secondaries. 

 H.\B. Region of Missouri River to Rockj' Mountains. 



This race is veiy similar to tlie P. atricapiUus, l)ut differs from it 

 somewhat as atricapill'us does from carolincnsis. Its size is much greater; 

 the tail proportionally longer, and much more graduated ; the white of 

 wing and tail purer and more extended. The bill aj^pears to be stouter 

 and more conical. The back has, perhaps, a little more yellowish. The 

 spurious or first primary is larger. 



It will be a difficult matter to retain this as a species distinct from 

 atricapiUus, iu view of the insensible gradation from cue form to the other ; 

 and it may be looked upon, with scarcely a doubt, as simply a long-tailed 

 Western variety of the common si)ecies. P. occiJcntalis, and, probably, even 

 P. carol immsis, may even fall under tlie same category, their peculiarities 

 of color and size being precisely such as would a j^riori be expected from 

 their geographical distribution. 



Habits. The Long-tailed Titmouse ayipears to have an extended distribu- 

 ti(ju lietweeu the Mississippi Valley and th(.' Itocky Mountains, i'roui Texas 

 into the British Possessions, specimens having been received from Fort 

 Simpson and Lake Winnipeg. Among the notes of the late Eobert Ken- 

 nicott is one dated Lake Winnipeg, June 6, mentioning the dissection of a 

 female of this species found to contain a full-sized egg. A memorandunr 

 made by Mr. Eoss, dated at Fort William, ]May 15, speaks of this bird 

 as abundant at Fort Simpson, from August until November, the last having 

 been seen November 10. One was shot, June 2, on Winnijjeg River, "a 

 female, who was about to lay her egg." 



In regard to its distinct individual history but little is as yet known. It 

 was discovered and first described liy the late Edward Harris, of New Jersey, 

 who accompanied ^Ir. Audubon in his expedition to the upjier branches of 

 the ]Missouri liiver, and wlio oljtained this bird on the Yellowstone, about 

 tliirty miles above its junction with the Missouri, on the 26th of July. He 

 describes its notes as similar to tliose of the common utrimplUns, but less 

 harsh and querulous, and more liquid in their utterance. Subsequently 

 specimens were obtained by Mr. Kern, artist to the exploring expedition 

 tmder Fremont in 1840. 



It is the largest species of this genus in America. In its breeding-habits 

 it is not different from the Eastern representatives. Mr. B. F. Goss found 

 this species breeding abundantly at Neosho Falls, in Kansas. They nest in 

 decayed stumps, hollow trees, branches, logs, etc., after the manner of the 

 atricapiUus. The excavation is usually ten or twelve inches, and even 

 more, in depth. The nest is warmly made of a loose soft felt composed of 

 the fur and fine hair of small quadnqieds, feathers, and the finer mosses. 



