124 PSALTRIPARUS P. MINIMUS 



the tail, would rank next to the Hummingbirds in dwarfish- 

 ness. One author has called them "fairy" Titmice, doubtless 

 thinking of their elfish aspect ; nevertheless, they are more posi- 

 tive and substantial pygmies than those we fancy at the court 

 of Queen Mab ; while, as for the hanging castles they build, 

 there is room enough in them for all the fairies that ever were 

 seen. 



The species inhabiting the Colorado Basin is appreciably dif- 

 ferent from that of the Pacific coast region, though so closely 

 related that combination of the two under one specific name 

 may be required. The synonymy and characters of the origi- 

 nal species* are subjoined for comparison, especially as it 

 extends to the very border of the Colorado watershed. 



There is a third species of this genus, the Black-eared Bush- 

 tit (P. melanotis), which we may expect to find in the region, 

 under consideration. It has been for some years admitted to 

 the United States fauna, on the strength of its occurrence near 

 the Mexican Boundary, but I am not aware that it has actually 

 been known to cross over the border. It is supposed to have 

 been seen in Nevada by Mr. Eidgway. 



* i*sal< r i pa i-iis minimus. Least Bush-tit. 

 ParilS minimus, Towns. Journ. Phila. Acad. vii. 1837, 190 (Columbia River). Bp. C. 



&GL. 1838, 20. Aud. OB. iv. 1838, 382, pi. 353, f. 5, 6. Towns. Journ. Phila. Acad. 



viii. 1839, 152. And. Syn. 1839, 80. And. BA. ii. 1841, 160, pi. 130. Gamb. Pr. Phila. 



Acad. iii. 1846, 155 (California). Gamb. Journ. Phila. Acad. i. 1847, 36. (t)Henry, Pr. 



Phila. Acad. vii. 1855, 309. 

 Poecila minimus, Bp. CA. i. 1850, 230. 

 Psaltria minima, Cass. 111. 1853, 2Q.Hverm. Journ. Phila. Acad. ii. 1853, 264. Scl. PZS. 



1857, 126 (California). Heerm. PRRR. x. 1859, 43. 

 PsaltripaniS minimus, Bp. CR. xxxviii. 1854, 62. Bd. BWA. 185 3 , 397. Xant. Pr. Phila. 



Acad. xi. 1859, 191 (California). Henry, Pr. Phila. Acud. xi. 1859, 107. Ooop. &f Suckl. 



NHWT. 1860, 195. Bd.RAB.1864, 84. Ooop. B. Cal. i. 1870, 46, fig. Coop. Am. Nat. 



iv. 1871, 757. Ooues, Key, 1872, W.Coop. Am. Nat. viii. 1874, 17. Nets. Pr. Bost. Soc. 



.xvii. 1875, 356 (California). 



Psaltriparus minimus var. minimus, B. B. <v R. NAB. i. 1874, 109, fig. pi. 7, f. 9. 

 Chestnut-crowned Titmouse, Least Titmouse, Least Tit, Least Bush-tit, Authors. 



.T- Pacific Coast region of the United States. 

 CH. SP. $ 2 Sordide plunibem, infra albldas,vertioe bntnnescente. 



3 9 : Dull lead-color, frequently with a brownish or olivaceous shade, the 

 top of the head abruptly darker clove-brown or hair-brown. Below sordid 

 whitish, or brownish- white. Wings and tail dusky, with slight hoary edgings. 

 Bill and feet black. Length, 4 inches or rather less ; wing scarcely or not 

 2 inches ; tail, 2 inches or a little more ; bill, ; tarsus, f . 



Young birds do not differ materially. There is considerable variation in 

 the precise shade of the body, but the species always presents the brown cap 

 appreciably different in color from the rest of the upper parts. 



