PARID.E — rSALTKIPARUS. 49 



farther, as they appear along the Columbia by the first of April. They are 

 usually observed scattered in the trees near together, keeping up a constant 

 chirping call, and following each other fmin tree to tree, thorouglily explor- 

 ing the foliage for their insect food. 



As early as March 1st, near San Diego, 1 fcjund a newly Iniilt nest, liut 

 witliDUt eu<;s. At tliat time thev are in i)airs, Init an alarm soon brings 

 others around, anil the flock does not prol)ably scatter far during tlie breed- 

 ing season, though I have ne\'er found nests very near together. The great 

 size of the nest, compared to the bird, would lead us to think that the whole 

 flock united to buihl one. It is al)Out eight inches long, and three inches in 

 diameter, outside ; inside, 5 X 1-50 ; cylindrical, and suspended by one end 



from a low branch. It is in fact a long purse, witli an opening near the top, 

 constructed of lichens, gatliered from the neigldjoriug In'anclies, mixed with 

 slender stems and heads of weeds, sliells of insect larvre, down of jilants, etc. 

 At San Diego, I found two nests on the 9th of May, one containing eggs, 

 deserted when half hatched, and another in the same bush witli seven pure 

 white eggs already sat upon, measuring 0.60 X 0.45 inch. Tlie number is 

 from six to eight (Heermann), and Nuttall found them already hatching liy 

 the middle of May, in Oregon, so that they probably are usually a niontli 

 earlier in this State. 



When one is killed, the others come round it with great show of anxiety, 

 and call plaintively until they find that it Avill not foUow them. At such 

 times they become so fearless as almost to allow of being taken in the 

 hand. 



Psaltriparus plumbeus, ?.,\iun. 



THE PLUMBEOUS TITMOUSE. 



Pmltriaplumbm, Baiud, Pr. A. N. Sc. Phila. VII. June, 18.'>4, 118. (Little Colorado R. N. 

 Mcx.) — Psaltriparus phimliciis, Baihd, P. R. Rej). IX. BinU, .398. — Rev. Amcr. Bird.s, 

 79. — Kennerly, X. iv. 25, pi. 33, f. 2. — Couks, Pr. A. N. S. 6G, 79. 



Sp. Cn.\R. Tail limjr, feathers fjradiiated. Above, rather lis;ht olivaceous-cinereous. 

 Top of head rather clearer ; torehead, chin, and sides of head, pale sinok)--brown. Be- 



