PARID.E — THE TITMICE. 207 



the nest of this heroic pair did not contain what we soii«:;ht, we left them, and 

 tnrned to look with e(|ual mhairation u])on the indignant asseinhly of feath- 

 ered remonstrants by which we were sun'oun<^ed. Tlie neighlMjring trees 

 swarmed with a varietv of birds, several of which we had never before seen 

 in their summer homes. There were tlie Ked-Poll Warbler, the lUack and 

 Yellow Warbler, and many others, all earnestly and eloquently crying out 

 sliame upon our proceedings. 



Dr. Bryant, in his Notes on the Birds of Yarmouth, X. S., etc., mentions 

 finding quite a number of this species on Big Mud Island, near tliat place. 

 A pair of these birds with their young were seen by him near Yarmouth on 

 the 3d of July. Their habits seemed to him identical with those of the 

 Black-Cap. The young were fully grown and could fly with ease, yet tlieir 

 parents were so solicitous about their safety tliat lie could almost catch them 

 with his hand. Their notes appeared to him similar to those of our common 

 species, but sharper and more filing, and can be readily imitated by repeat- 

 ing', with one's front teeth shut tocjether, the syllables tzee-dee-dte-dee. 



^Ir. Audubon found a nest of this Titmouse inl^brador. It was built in a 

 decayed stump about three feet fnjui the ground, was purse-shaped, eight 

 inches in depth, two in diameter, and its sides an-inch thick. It was entirely 

 composed of the finest fur of various quadrupeds, chiefly of the northern 

 hare, and all so thickly and ingeniously matted throughout as to seem as if 

 felted by the hand of man. It was wider at the bottom than at the top. 

 The birds vehemently assailed the party. 



Mr. Ross, in notes communicated to the late Mr. Kennicott, mentions that 

 specimens of this species were shot at Fort Simpson, October 13, in com- 

 pany with P. seiitcntrionaUs, and others were afterwards seen towards the 

 mountains. The notes he describes as harsher tlian those of the acptrntrio- 

 nalk. Tlie Smithsonian museum contains specimens from Fort Yukon and 

 Great Slave I^ke, besides the localities already referred to. ^Ir. Dall found 

 it the commonest Titmouse at Nulato, abundant in the winter, but not pres- 

 ent in the spring. 



The eggs of this species measure .56 by .47 of an inch, are of a rounded 

 oval shape, and with a white ground are somewhat sparingly marked with 

 a few reddish-brown spots. These are usually grouped in a ring around the 

 larger end. 



Genus PSALTRXPARUS, Bonap. 



Pmlfn'parus, Bonap. Comptes Rendus, XXXI, 1850, 478. (Type, P. mclanotis.) 

 ^githalisens, Cabaxis, Museum Heineanum, 1851, 90. (Type, Farm erythroccphalus.) 

 Psaltria, Cassin, 111. N. Am. Birds, 1853, 19. 



Gen. Char. Size very small and slender. Bill very small, short, compressed, and 

 witli its upper outline much curved for the terminal half. Uppei mandil)le much deeper 

 than under. Tail lonjr, slender, much jxraduated ; much lonjrer thun the win<ri*; the 

 feathers very narrow. Tarsi considerably longer than the middle toe. No black on the 



