PARID.E — THE TITMICE. 109 



Psaltriparus minimus, vai. minimus, Bonap. 



LEAST BUSH-TITMOUSE. 



Parus minimus, Townsend, J. A. N. Sc VII, ii, 1837, 190. — AuD. Orn. Biog. IV, 1838, 

 382, pi. ccclxxxii, figs. 5, 6. — Ib. Birds Am. II, 1841, 160, pi. cx.xx. Pc&ciU minima, 

 Bon. Consp. 1850, 230. Psaltria minima, Cassin, lUust. 1853, 20. Psaltriparus 

 minimus, Bon. C. R. XXXVIII, 1854, 62. — B.\iud, Birds N. Am. 1858, 397; He- 

 view, 84. — Cooper & Suokley, P. R. R. Rep. XII, ii, 1859, 195. — Cooper, l>irds 

 Cal. I, 48. 



Sp. Char. Tail long, feathers graduated. Above rather dark olivaceous-cinereous ; 

 top and sides of head smoky-brov^rn. Beneath pale whitish-brown, darker on the side.-^. 

 Length about 4 inches ; wing, 1.90 ; tail, 2.25. 



Hab. Pacific coast of United States. 



There is quite an appreciable difference between specimens of tliis s})ecies 

 I'roin Washington Territory and California ; the latter are smaller, the under 

 parts paler. In the series before us, however, we see no grounds for 

 specific distinction. 



Habits. This interesting little species was first added to our fiiuna by th(^ 

 indefatigable Mr. Townsend in 1837. It 

 is abundant throughout the Pacific coast 

 from Fort Steilacooni to Fort Tejon. Dr. 

 Gambel found it exceedingly abundant 

 both in the Eocky Mountains and through- 

 out California. During the winter the 

 otherwise cheerless woods were alive with 

 the busy and noisy troops of these restless 

 and industrious birds, gleaning their scanty _ , . 



' o o J Psaltriparus minimus. 



fare in company with the Rcguli, in every 



possible position and manner, from bush and tree. He describes their anx- 

 ious solicitous search for food as quite curious. They kept up a continual 

 twittering, and so intent were they in their employment that they appeared 

 to lose sight of all danger, and it was by no means unusual to be so sur- 

 rounded by a flock as almost to reuder it possible to catch them in the hand. 

 Dr. Cooper found this species al)undant in Washington Territory, but 

 never met with it north of the Columbia River. Dr. Suckley says it is quite 

 common at Fort Steilacooni. He could not, however, detect any difference 

 in its habits from those of other species of this family. He saw none in 

 Washington Territory during the wiuter, and presumes tliey all migrate to 

 the Soutl), though the riifeseois and the occidcntalis are found there through- 

 out the winter. Townsend, however, speaks of it as a constant resident 

 al)out the Columbia River, hopping around among the bushes, hanging from 

 tlie twigs in the manner of other Titmice, twittering all the while with a 

 rapid enunciation resembling the words thsliiah tshist-tsce-twce. 



