IQQ NORTH AMERICAN BIRDS. 



neath white, tinged with pale brownish-white on the sides. Outer tail-feathers, prinoaries, 

 and secondaries broadly edged with white, involving nearly the whole outer web of outer 

 tail-feather. Tail much graduated ; the outer feather about .50 of an inch shorter than 

 the middle. Second quill about as long as the secondaries. 

 Hab. Region of Missouri River to Rocky Mountains. 



This race is very similar to the P. atricajnlhis, but differs from it 

 somewhat as atriecqnllus does from carolinensis. Its size is much greater ; 

 the tail proportionally longer, and much mol^e graduated ; the white of 

 wing and tail purer and more extended. The bill appears to be stouter 

 and more conical. The back has, perhaps, a little more yellowish. The 

 spurious or first primary is larger. 



It will be a difficult matter to retain this as a species distinct from 

 atricainllas, in view of the insensible gradation from one form to the other ; 

 and it may be looked upon, with scarcely a doubt, as simply a long-tailed 

 Western variety of the common species. P. occidcntalis, and, probably, even 

 P. carolinensis, may even fall under the same category, their peculiarities 

 of color and size being precisely such as would a jjriori be expected from 

 their geographical distribution. 



Habits. The Long-tailed Titmouse appears to have an extended distribu- 

 tion between the Mississippi Valley and the Kocky Mountains, from Texas 

 into the British Possessions, specimens having been received from Fort 

 Simpson and Lake AVinnipeg. Among the notes of the late EobertKen- 

 nicott is one dated Lake Winnipeg, June 6, mentioning the dissection of a 

 female of this species found to contain a full-sized egg. A memorandum 

 made by Mr. Eoss, dated at Fort William, May 15, speaks of this bird 

 as abundant at Fort Simpson, from August until November, the last having 

 been seen November 10. One w^as shot, June 2, on Winnipeg Eiver, "a 

 female, who was about to lay her egg." 



In regard to its distinct individual history but little is as yet known. It 

 was discovered and first described by the late Edward Harris, of New Jersey, 

 who accompanied Mr. Audubon in his expedition to the upper branches of 

 the Missouri Eiver, and who obtained this bird on the Yellowstone, about 

 thirty miles above its junction with the IVIissouri, on the 26th of July. He 

 describes its notes as similar to tliose of the common atricapillus, but less 

 harsh and querulous, and more liquid in their utterance. Subsequently 

 specimens were obtained by Mr. Kern, artist to tlie exploring expedition 

 under Fremont in 1846. 



It is the largest species of this genus in America. In its breeding-habits 

 it is not different from the Eastern representatives. ]\Ir. B. F. Goss found 

 this species breeding abundantly at Neosho Falls, in Kansas. They nest in 

 decayed stumps, hollow trees, branches, logs, etc., after the manner of the 

 atricapiUm. The excavation is usually ten or twelve inches, and even 

 more, in depth. The nest is warmly made of a loose soft felt composed of 

 the fur and fine hair of small quadrupeds, feathers, and the finer mosses. 



