XQ2 NORTH AMERICAN BIRDS. 



of bread. They migrate but little, remaining at the Columbia Eiver even 

 when the ground is covered with snow. The eggs are as yet unknown, but 

 without doubt they closely resemble those of the Eastern species. 



Parus carolinensis, Audubon. 



SOUTHEKN CHICKADEE. 



Parus carolinensis, Aud. Orn. Biog. II, 1834, 474, pi. clx. — Ib. Birds Am. II, 1841, 152, 

 pi. cxxvii. — Baikd, Birds N. Am. 1858, 392 ; Review, 81. — Sclater, Catal. 1861, 

 13, no. 81. Fcecile carolinensis, Bon. Consp. 1850, 230. 



Sp. Char. Second quill .ippreciably longer than secondaries. Tail very little rounded. 

 Length about 4.50 inches; wing less than 2.50; tail, 2.40. Back brownish-ash. Head 

 above, and throat, black, separated on sides of head by white. Beneath white ; brownish- 

 white on sides. Outer tail-feathers, primaries, and secondaries, not edged with white. 



Hab. South Atlantic and gulf region of United States, north to Washington, D. C. 

 Texas and the Mississippi Valley ; north to Central Illinois ; the only species in the 

 southern portion of the latter State. 



This species is, in general, rather smaller than P. atricapillus, although 

 the tail and wing appear to be of much the same size. The body and feet 

 are, however, smaller, and the extent of wing is three quarters of an inch 

 less. The bill is apparently shorter and stouter. 



The primaries are proportionally and absolutely consideral^ly longer than 

 the secondaries in the present species, the difference being .55 of an inch, 

 instead of .45. The tail is rather more rounded, the feathers narrower. 



The tail is considerably shorter than the wing, instead of longer ; the 

 black of the throat extends much farther back, is more dense and more 

 sharply defined behind, than in atricapillus. Taking into view these dif- 

 ferences, and others of color, we feel justified in retaining this as a species 

 distinct from atricapillus, and, in fact, having mcridionalis as its nearest 

 relative (see Synoptical Table), Both this species and atricapillus are found 

 together in the Middle States, each preserving its characteristics. 



Habits. South of the once famous line of Mason and Dixon this smaller 

 counterpart of the Chickadee seems to entirely replace it, although in New 

 Jersey and Pennsylvania, and occasionally even as far to the north as New 

 York City, the two occur together. Its range is presumed to be all the 

 States south of tlie Potomac and the Ohio, as far to the west as the Kio 

 Grande. It was probably this species, and not the atricapillus, which was 

 met with by Dr. Woodhouse in the Indian Territory. Without much doubt 

 it breeds in all the States south of Pennsylvania. 



In Southern Illinois, as far north in the Wabash Valley as the mouth of 

 White Eiver, this is the only species, unless the P. atricapillus occasionally 

 occurs in winter. Specimens trom this region are undistinguishable from 

 those taken in Georgia and the extreme Southern States, and do not present 

 the peculiar features of P. atricapillus. It is a very abundant species. 



