270 



.S' YiSTEMA TIC SYNOPSIS. — PA SSERES — OSCINES. 



of ueck, there separated from the black crescent of auriculars by a white crescent, which latter 

 is continuous with the white of superciliary line ; considerable whitish si^eckliug in black of 

 forehead and lores. Bill blackish-plumbeous; feet plumbeous. Smallest: Length 5.00 or 

 less' wing 2.70; tail 2.40-2.65; bill 0.33; tarsus 0.60-0.70. Young: Chin narrowly or im- 

 perfectly black, and some of the above described head-markings obscure or incomplete. The 

 singularly variegated markings of the head of this species at once distinguish it. W. Texas, 

 southern New Mexico, and Arizona, S. in Mexico to Orizaba. Abundant, going in troops, in 

 woods and shrubbery. Eggs 5-7, 0.65 X 0.50, white, unmarked. 



PA'RUS. (Lat. ^fl>"ifs, a titmouse.) Typical Titmice. Chickadees. Head not crested. 

 Wings and tail rounded, of approximately equal lengths. Bill typically parine (see foregoing 

 characters). No bright colors (in any North American species). Head in most species with 

 black. Plumage lax and dull, without decided changes with age, sex, or season. Size medium 

 in the family. Nest excavated. Eggs spotted. 



Analysis of Species mid Subspecies. 

 Species definitely black-capped and black-throated. 



A white superciliary stripe. Western gambeli (iormerly called moJitanusf 



No white superciliary stripe. Eastern and Western. 



Tail not shorter than wing ; feathers of both with much hoary-whitish edging. 



Larger ; tail at maximum length ; coloration most hoary. Rocky Mts a. septentrionali*. 



Smaller; tail moderate ; coloration less hoary. Eastern atricapillus 



&ize of a/ricdpiUus ; coloration darker. Pacific . a. occidenialU 



Tail shorter than wings ; whitish edgings of wings and tail obsolete. 



Rather smaller than atncnpilliis. South Atlantic States (and Texas) . . carolinensis (and C. agilis} 



Rather smaller than <7^r!"c«p!7/i«; coloration very dark. Mexican border meridionalis 



Species brown-capped, or with crown quite like back, and blackish throat. 

 Cap hair-brown ; back little different. 



White confined to side of head. Eastern and Arctic hudsonicus, etc. 



White spreading over sides of neck. Arctic, Alaska, and Siberia cinctus alascensiS' 



Cap dark wood-brown ; back chestnut. 



Back and sides rich chestnut alike. Pacific, northerly rufescens 



Back chestnut, but sides only washed with rusty. Pacific, southerly r. neglectus 



P. atricapil'lus. (Lat. (iter, black ; capillus, hair. Fig. 130.) Black-capped Titmouse. 

 Common Chickadee. 9 i adult : Crown and nape, 



with chin and throat, black, separated by white sides of 

 *^"^ -^ the head. Upper parts brownish-ash, with slight olive 



tinge, and a rusty wash on rump. Under parts more or 

 less purely white or whitish, shaded on sides with a brown- 

 ish or rusty wash. Wings and tail like upper parts, the 

 lAi^'H^ feathers moderately edged with hoary-white. Average 



dimensions: Length 5.25; extent 8.00; wing and tail, 

 each, 2.50 ; tarsus 0.70. Extremes : Length 4.75-5.50 y 

 extent 7.50-8.50; wing and tail 2.35-2.65; tarsus 0.65- 

 0.75. Eastern N. Am., from the Middle States north- 

 M-ard, very abundant, well-known by its familiar habits 

 and peculiar notes. Nest in holes of trees, stumps, or 

 fences, natural or excavated by the bird, made of grasses, 

 mosses, hair, fur, feathers, etc ; eggs 6-S, 0.58 X 0.47, 

 white, fully sprinkled with reddish-brown dots and spots. 

 P. a. septeiitriona'lis. (Lat. septentrionalis, northern ; 

 f:eptentrio)ies, the constellation of seven stars, the dipper.)' 

 LoxG-TAiLED CHICKADEE. Similar to p. atricapillus; 

 i-iG. 130. -Black-capped Chickadee, averaging larger, and especially longer-tailed ; tail rather 



reduced. (Ad. nat. del. E. c.) exceeding wing in length. Coloration clear and pure;. 



