PARID.E — PARIN.E: TITMICE. 



271 



wings and tail very strongly edged, especially on secondaries and outer tail-feathers, M-ith 

 hoary-wliite, which usually passes around their tips. Cap pure black aud very extensive on 

 nape; black of throat reaching breast; sides of head aud neck snowy- white. Bill and feet 

 dark plumbeous. Average dimensions about the maxima of P. atricapillns : Length 5.25- 

 5.50; extent 8.50; wing 2.50-2.75; tail 2.60-2.80, sometimes 8.00. This style reaches its 

 extreme development in the region of the Upper Missouri and Rocky Mts., there apparently to 

 the exclusion of P. atricapillus proper. 



P. a. occidenta'lis. (Lat. occidentalis, western; occido, I fall; i. e., where the suu sets.) 

 Western Chickadee. Oregon Chickadee. ainnluT to P. atricajnllus ; of same average 

 size ; presenting the opposite extreme from P. septentrionalis in minimum edging of wing- and 

 tail-feathers with hoary, heavy brownish wash of sides, and general dark sordid coloration. 

 Pacific coast region, California to Alaska. 



P. carolinen'sis. (Lat. of Carolina.) CAROLINA Chickadee. Averaging smaller than P. 

 atricapillus, with relatively as well as absolutely shorter tail, which is rather shorter than 

 wings; wings and tail very little edged with whitish. Average dimensions about the minima 

 oi P. atricapillns. Length about 4.50; wing 2.50 ; tail 2.25, S.Atlantic and Gulf States; 

 X. to New Jersey, Illinois, and Missouri. Nesting like 7^. atricapiUus ; eggs similar, rather 

 smaller. 



P. c. a'gilis. (Lat. agilis, agile, active.) Plumbeous Chickadee. Differs from P. caroli- 

 nensis proper by more plumbeous shade of upper parts, wliiter under parts, which lack any 

 decided bufi"y wash, and somewhat longer tail in comparison with other dimensions ; wing and 

 tail of about the same length — 2.40. Eastern and Central Texas. Sennett, Auk, Jan. 

 1888, p. 46; Coues, Key, 4th ed., 1890, p. 898; A. 0. U. List, 2d ed., 1895, p. 308, 

 No. 730 a. 



P. meridiona'lis. (Lat. meridionalis, southern.) Mexican Chickadee. Differs decidedly 

 from P. atricapillus in having the under parts merely a paler shade of tlie ashy nf the upper, 

 instead of white, without any brownish wash on sides; wing- 

 coverts and tail lacking any hoary edging, though the wing, 

 quills have a slight grayish-white edging. Thus quite like 

 P. (jamheli in color, but no white superciliary stripe. Length 

 4.80-5.20 ; extent 8.00-8.70 ; 

 wing 2.67-2.90; tail 2.40- 

 2.07. Mexico, from Orizaba 

 to Arizona. 



P. gani'beli. (ToWm. Gam- 

 bol, its original describer as P. montanus. Figs. 131, 132.) 

 Mountain Chickadee. Gambel's Chickadee. Upper 

 parts ashy-gray, with scarcely a shade, and only 

 on rump, of the ochraceous seen in most other 

 species; under parts similarly grayish -white, 

 without rusty tinge ; middle of belly nearly 

 white, the rest more heavily shaded. Wings and 

 tail with comparatively little whitish edging — 

 tail with no more than that of P. carolinensia. 

 Sides of head and neck white ; top of head, aud 

 throat, black. A conspicuous white supercili- 

 ary stripe in the black cap, usually meeting its 

 fellow across forehead. Length about 5.00; 

 extent 8.30 ; wing 2.50-2.75 ; tail ratlier less ; 

 bill 0.38, slender ; tarsus 0.66. U. S., from Eastern foot-lulls of the Rocky Mts. to the Pacific, 



Fig. 131. — Mountain Chickadee, 

 nat. size. (Ad. nat. del. E. C.) 



Mountain Chickadee. 



