DISTRIBUTION OF THE MOUNTAIN CHICKADEE 123 



Young : I have never seen this species without indication at least of the 

 white superciliary stripe, hy which it is immediately distinguished from 

 any of its congeners. 



This species presents the opposite extreme of P. septentrionalis in the 

 general darkness of its colors, little hoary edging of the wings and tail. &c., 

 in these respects more nearly resembling P. carolinensis, or even P. meridio- 

 nalis, as it does also in the shortness of the tail as compared with the wings. 

 The white superciliary streak is a conspicuous specific character. 



THE White-browed or Mountain Chickadee is a common in- 

 habitant of alpine regions in the Middle and Western 

 faunistic Provinces. It was discovered by Dr. Gainbel in New 

 Mexico and Arizona, and has since been ascertained to occur 

 also in the mountains of California, Nevada, Utah, Colorado, 

 Wyoming, Idaho, Montana and Oregon. I have no informa- 

 tion that it inhabits Texas, Mexico or Lower California. 

 Throughout the whole region just indicated, it is a resident 

 species ; and it is found in the mountains up to the timber- 

 line. The vast tracts of coniferous forests that clothe these 

 alpine regions with perennial verdure seem best suited to its 

 requirements. Yet it is not confined to the pine-belts ; it often 

 descends to the low country, even in the southern portions of 

 its habitat, and is then to be found among the fringes of willows 

 and cottonwoods along the streams. In saying even so little 

 as this, I have about exhausted the scanty material which the 

 bird affords a biographer ; its nest and eggs, I think, have 

 never been seen ; its habits are in no wise peculiar. The litera- 

 ture which the little bird has occasioned consists, in about 

 equal parts, of variously couched and sometimes spun-out state- 

 ments to this effect, and of mention of the particular locali- 

 ties, all within the general area above mentioned, where differ- 

 ent observers found it more or less abundant. 



Genus PSALTRIPARUS Bonaparte 



CHAKS. Head not crested. Wings rounded, decidedly 

 shorter than the long, graduated tail, which exceeds the 

 length of the body. Bill thoroughly parine. No bright colors 

 (in our species) ; neither crown nor throat black. Plumage 

 lax, without decided changes according to age or season. Size 

 very small. Nest pensile, woven ; entrance lateral. Eggs white. 



This genus includes two, perhaps three, kinds of Titmice, 

 notable for their extremely diminutive stature. In bulk, they 

 scarcely equal a Polioptila, and, were it not for the length of 



