124 PSALTRIPARUS P. MINIMUS 



the tail, would rank next to the Humaiingbirds in dwarfish- 

 ness. One author has called them " fairy'' Titmice, doubtless 

 thinking of their eltlsh aspect; nevertheless, they are more posi- 

 tive and substantial pygmies than those we fancy at the court 

 of Queen Mab ; while, as for the hanging castles they build, 

 there is room enough in them for all the fairies that ever were 

 seen. 



The species inhabiting the Colorado Basin is appreciably dif- 

 ferent from that of the Pacific coast region, though so closely 

 related that combination of the two under one specific name 

 may be required. The synonymy and characters of the origi- 

 nal species* are subjoined for comparison, especially as it 

 extends to the very border of the Colorado watershed. 



There is a third species of this genus, the Black-eared Bush- 

 tit (P. melanotis), which we may expect to find in the region 

 under consideration. It has beeti for some years admitted ta 

 the United States fauna, on the strength of its occurrence near 

 the Mexican Boundary, but I am not aware that it has actually 

 been known to cross over the border. It is supposed to have 

 been seen in ^sTevada by Mr. Eidgway. 



' Piiialtripariis miiiimiis.— I^east Bu»ili-tit. 



Parus minimus, Towns. Jouru. Phila. Acad. vii. 1837, 190 (Columbia River).— 5/>, C. 



iGL. 183?, 20.— Jud. OB. iv. 1838, 382, pi. 3.53, f. 5, 6. — Toro,is. Journ. Phila. Acad. 



viii. 1839, 152.— ^KfZ. Syn. 1839, 80.— And. BA. it. 1841, 160, pi. 130.— Gamb. Pr. Phila. 



Acad. iii. 1846, 155 (California).— Gam6. Journ. Phila. Acad. i. 1847, m.—{f)Heimj, Pr. 



Phila. Acad. vii. 1855, 309. 

 Poecila minimus, Bp. CA. i. 1850, 230. 

 P^altria minima, Cass. 111. 1853, -20.— Ifeerm. .Tourn. Phila. Acad. ii. 1853, 264.— .S'c:i. PZS, 



1857, 126 (California).— //ccj-fli. PRRR. x. 1859, 43. 

 Psaltriparus minimus, Bp. CR. x.^xviii. 1854, 62. — Bd. BXA. 185^ 397.— Xrt«<. Pr. Phila. 



Acad. xi. 1959, 191 (California).— //««ry, Pr. Phila. Acad. xi. 1859, 107.— Ooop. ^ Siickt. 



NHWT. 1860, 195.— Bfi. RAB.1864, 84.— 0«op. B. Gal. i. 1870, 48, fig.— Coo^j. Am. Nat. 



iv. 1871, 757.—Ooues, Key, 1872, 82.— Coop. Am. Nat. viii. 1874, 17.— Ncls. Pr. Bost. Soc. 



xvii. 1875, 356 (California). 

 Psaltriparus minimus mr. minimus, B. B. ff R- NAB. i. 1874, 109, fig. pi. 7, f. 9. 

 Ctiestnut-ci'owni-d Titmouse, Least Titmouse, Least Tit, Least Busli-tit, .-luUiors. 



H.iB.— Pacific Coast re^iou of the Uuited States. 



Ch. sp. — $ 9 Sordidl'. plamheus, infra albiilnn, vertice brannescente. 



^ J: Dull lead-color, frequently with a brownish or olivaceous shade, the 

 top of the head abruptly darker — clove-brown or hair-brosvu. Below sordid 

 whitish, or brownish-white. Winj^sand tail dusky, with slight boary edgings. 

 Bill and feet black. Length, 4 inches or rather less; wing scarcely or not 

 2 inches; tail, 2 inclies or a little more; bill, 'J; tarsus, 'i. 



Young bird.s do not ditt'er materially. There is considerable variation in 

 the precise shade of tlie body, but the species always presents the browu cap 

 appreciably ditforent in color from the rest of the upper parts. 



