112 



NORTH AMERICAN BIRDS. 



Auriparus flaviceps, Laird. 



TELLOW-HEAOSD BU8H-nTM0V8E ; YEBDHT. 



^ffithalns flaricfps, Si'm.evali., OlVersigt af Vet. Ak. Foih. VII, v, 1850, 129. Psaltrm 

 Jltivicc/m, ScL. P. Z. S. XXIV, March, 1856, 37. Pmltrijxirus flaviaps, ScL. fatal. 

 Am. liinls, 1861, 13, no. 7l>. Puroidesffuviccps, Haird, liinls N. Am. 1858, 400, i»l. 

 liii, fig. 2. AKrqmruH fliivkeps, Baiud, Review, 1864, 85. —Cooper, Birds Cal. I, 

 51. Couirostrum omatum, Lawrence, Aun. N. Y. Lye. May, 1851, 113, pi. v, fig. 1 

 (Texas). 



Sp. Char. Above rinereous; head, all round, yellow; les.«!er wing-coverts chestnut; 

 beneath brownish-white. Length, 4.50 inches; wing, 2.1C; tail, 2.35. 

 IIab. Valleys of the Rio Grande and Colorado ; Ca|>e St. Lucas. 



Habits. This new and interesting little species was first added to our 



fauna by ^Ir. Lawrence in 1851, only a year 

 after its first description as a bird of Mexico. 

 Notwithstanding the abundance in which it 

 has been in certain localities, less has been 

 developed in regard to its habits and specific 

 characteristics than we seem to have had a 

 right to anticipate. 



It was found in Western Texas, in Mexico, 

 in the lower valleys of New Mexico and 

 Arizona, and is very abundant at Cape St. 

 Lucas. Of the eigliteen species of birds found by Mr. John Xantus breed- 

 ing in the last-named locality, this one w^as regarded as the most abundant. 

 In a letter from that gentleman, written in August, 1859, he mentioned 

 that he had collected over one hundred eggs of this species, during that 

 season, in the immediate vicinity of Cape St. Lucas. 



Dr. Heermann, in his report on the birds observed in Lieutenant William- 

 son's explorations, states that he first discovered this species in Southern 

 California, at the terminus of the Mohave 

 River. Owing to their extreme wildness, 

 he was not able to obtain any specimens. 

 In searching for their food, he states that 

 they often remained suspended with their 

 backs downward, after the manner of the 

 Titmice. He found their nests quite 

 abundant, though from the lateness of 

 the season few of the birds were re- 

 maining, in the neighborhood of Fort 



Auriparus flavicfps. 





Auriparus flaviceps. 



Yuma. Dr. Heermann describes their 



nests as spherical, formed of twigs, and having the entrance on one side. 



The interior was lined with dovm and feathei-s, and contained usually from 



