PARID.K — TIIK TITMICR 101 



The egj^s, usually five, occjisioiuiUy ei^lit, in number, are of a roundeti 

 oval shape, measuring X>0 ])y .50 of an inch. They have a jaire «lull-wliitu 

 ground, and tlie entire egg is very uniformly and pretty thickly covered 

 witli tine markings and small blotches of red and redtlish-browu inter- 

 mingled with a few dots of purplish. 



Farus atricapillus, var. occidentalis, Baird. 



WE8TEBH CHICKADEE. 



Farm oceiilenttflis, K\U'A\ Rirds N. Am. 18.'>8, .'JlH (W. Territory) ; Review, si. —SrLATEU, 

 fatal. 18dl, 14, no. 82. —Elliot, lllust. 1, pi. viii. — Coopku, Hinls Cul. I, 45. 



Sp. Char. Tarsi lenfrthened. Tail ^raduatod; outer feather about .2'> of an inch shorter 

 than the middle. Above dark brownish-ash; head and neek above and below black, sepa- 

 ratetl on the sides by whitt? ; beneath liirht, dirty, rusty yt'IK)wish-brown, searcely whiter 

 alon** the middle of body. Tail and wings not tpiite so nmeh edged with whitish as in P. 

 atrirapilltis. Length about 4.7.'> ; wing, 2.40 ; tail. 2.40. 



IIab. Northwest coast region of the United States. 



This race is of the same size as P. atrirapillus, and resembles it in its 

 markings ; the ashy of the back is, however, washed with a darker shade 

 of yellowish-brown. The brown of the under parts is so much darker as to 

 cause the predominant color there to be a pale yellowish-brown, instead 

 of brownish-white. The fourtli quill is longest ; tlie fifth and sixth a little 

 shorter than the third ; the second is about as long as the secondaries. The 

 tail is rounded, rather more so than in most atricapillii.% the difference in the 

 lengths of the feathers amounting to about .25 of an inch. Tlie amount 

 of light margining to the quills and tail-feathers is much as in atricapillus, 

 but rather less, perhaps, on the tail. 



This seems to be the Pacific coast representative of the P. atricapillus, 

 as septentrional is belongs to the middle region, corresponding in its differ- 

 ences with other Western representatives of Eastern species. 



Habits. Dr. Cooper, in his Birds of Washington Territory, says of 

 this variety: "The common Black-capped Chickadee, so abundant in the 

 Eastern States, is, in Washington Territory, represented by tlie Western 

 Titmouse, freipienting the low thickets and trees, where it is always busily 

 employed seeking food." He observed its nest near Paget Sound, burrowed 

 in soft rotten w^ood. Dr. Suckley found it quite abundant in the valley of 

 the Willamette, and also at Fort Vancouver during winter. In habits it 

 closely resembles the Black-Cap of the Eastern States. 



It is chiefly found in Oregon and Washington Territory, visiting the 

 northern part of California in winter, when it is also abundant near the 

 Columbia Hiver. At this season it is generallv found among the deciduous 

 trees along streams and oak groves, seeking its food among the branches. 

 It feeds on seeds and insects, and is very fond of fresh meat, fat, and crumbs 



PRCV!NC!AL LIBRARY 

 VICTORiA. B.C. 



