1887, ■] PROCEEDINGS OF UNITED STATES NATIONAL MUSEUM. 697 



DESCRIPTION OF A NEW PSALTRIPARUS FROM SOUTHERN ARI- 

 ZONA. 



By ROBERT RIDQIVAY. 



Psaltriparus santaritae, sp. iiov. 



Sp. CHAR.— Similar to P.plumbcus Baird, but decidedly smaller, with 

 sides of liead paler, and male with a more or less distiuct blackish Hue 

 or streak aloug sides of occiput (immediately above auriculars), as iu 

 the female of P. floydi Sennett.* 



Habitat. — Santa llita Mountains, southern Arizona. 



{Type No. 98GS3, S juv., Santa Eita Mountains, Arizona, June 23, 

 1884; E.W.Nelson.)— Length (skin), 4.; wing:, 2; tail, 2.35; tarsus, .GO. 



An adult male (No. 98GS1), same locality, etc., measures as follows : 

 Length (skin), 3.90 ; wing, 2.05 ; tail (much worn at tip), 2.30 ; tarsus, .GO. 



Corresponding measurements of an adult female (No. 08G87) are, 

 4.00, 2.05,2.30, and .G2. 



Fourteen examples of this new form, collected iu the Santa Rita 

 ]\rountains by Mr. E. W. Nelson, are certainly to be separated from P. 

 plumheus Baird, sixty-five specimens of whicht have been directly com- 

 pared with them. 



Iu coloration there is some variation, especially among the males, 

 some of which apparently lack the blackish supra-auricular streak. It 

 seems, however, that this black streak is rarely distinct and often obso- 

 ete in specimens whose plumage is much worn, the streak being formed 

 by blackish feips to the feathers, which become worn ofif. The sides of 

 the head are as a rule very much paler than in F. plumheus.,h(img 

 often much lighter than the pileum, and therefore contrasting strongly 

 with the color of the latter. 



The close resemblance between the male of this form and the female 

 of r. lloycU (in the male of which the whole side of the head is glossy 

 black) is a curious and somewhat suggestive circumstance. 



Department of Birds, U. S. National Museum, 

 January 4, 1888. 



*C/. The Anlv, V, Jan., 1888, p. 43. 



t The followius localities being represented : Arizona (Santa Catalina Mountains and 

 other localities, hut none from the Santa Rita range), 2'y specimens; New Mexico, 12; 

 western Texas (Fort Davis), 5; Utah (Iron City and Prove), 5; Wyoming Territory 

 (Green River Station), I ; Nevada (West Humboldt Mountains and Carson City), 16; 

 eastern Oregon (Camp Harney), 1. 



