PARID^E — THE TITMICE. m 



Hab. Southern Rocky Mountain rpgion of Unitpcl Stntos. from mountains of West; 

 Arizona to Green River, Wyoming; west to Carson City, Nevada (Ridgway). 



This variety is very similar to the Psaltriparus minimus of the west coast, 

 whieli it represents in tlie IJoeky Mountain region. It is, however, apprecia- 

 lily larger, the -u-ings and tail proportionally longer. The top of the head is 

 plumbeous, uniform with the liaek, instead of smoky-brown. The back is a 

 jialer ash, the tinder parts darker. 



H.iBlTS. Of the history of this variety but little is known. It is found in 

 the southern portion of the Eocky Mountain regions, within the United 

 States, in Arizona and New Me.xico. The extent of its area of distribution 

 remains to be ascertained. Dr. Kenneiiy met with it on Little Colorado 

 Eiver, where he observed it among the scattered bushes along the banks of • 

 the river, occurring in large flocks. These passed rapidly from place to place, 

 uttering their short, rptick notes. He afterward met with them along the 

 head waters of Bill Williams Fork, inhabiting the tops of the cotton-wood 

 trees, ^\^leu attracted to them by their notes, they could only be seen after 

 a very careful search. He obtained no knowledge as to their mode of nest- 

 ing, and no information, so far as we are aware, has been obtained in regard 

 to their eggs. It may, however, be safely conjectured that they are white, 

 and hardly distinguishable fnjm those of the minimus. Dr. Coues found 

 them common near Yovi Whipple, Arizona. 



Mr. Eidgway met with this bird in especial abundance among the canons 

 of West Humboldt iMountains in September. He found it also in aU suit- 

 able places westward to the very base of the Sierra Nevada IMountains. It 

 was met with principally in the thick brushwood bordering the streams, in 

 ever-restless companies, continually twittering as they flew from bush to 

 bush, in single rows. Mr. Eidgway describes these birds as remarkably 

 active in their movements. If unmolested, they were exceedingly unsus- 

 picious and familiar. During November he found them inhabiting the 

 cedars, always associating in scattered flocks. 



Gknus AURIPARUS, P.aird. 



Auripants, Baird, Rev. Am. Binls, ISO-l, 85. ^Tylle, jEyilhtlus flaviccps, Sund.) 



Gen. Char. Form sylvicoline. Bill conical, nearly .straight, and very acute ; the com- 

 missure very slightly and gently curved. Nostrils concealed by decumbent bristles. 

 Wings long, little rounded; the first quill half the second; third, fourth, and fifth quills 

 nearly equal, and longest. Tail slightly graduated. Lateral toes equal, the anterior united 

 at the extreme base. Hind toe small, about equal to the lateral. Tarsus but little longer 

 than the middle toe. 



This genus is closely allied to Paroidcs of Europe, as shown in Birds of 

 North America (p. 399), though suiticiently different. It is mucli more syl- 

 vicoline in appearance than the other American Paridce. 



