IQO NORTH AMERICAN. BIRDS. 



nt'ftth wliito, tinifod witli pnli; browiiish-wliito on the sides. Outer tnil-fefitliera, primaries, 

 HiKJ .secoiHlaries l)roiiiiiy eil^'eil witli white, iiivolviiiff nearly the whole outer web of outer 

 tiiil-l'eatiier. Tail mueh grailuateil ; the outer H.-uther iiljout .50 ol' un inch shorter than 

 the middle. Seeond quill about as long as the secondaries. 

 IIai^ Region of Missouri River to Roeky Mountanis. 



Tlii.g nice is very similiir to the P. atricapillus, but differs from it 

 somewhat as atriaipilhis does from cnroliiu-iisis. Its size is much greater; 

 the tail proportionally longer, and much more graduated ; the white of 

 wing and tail purer and more extended. The bill appears to be stouter 

 and more conical. Tlie back ha.s, i)erhaps, a little more yellowish. The 

 spurious or first primary is larger. 



It will be a difficult matter to retain this as a species distinct from 

 atriaipiUus, in view of the insensible gradation from one form to the other ; 

 and it may be looked ujwn, witli scarcely a douljt, as simply a long-tailed 

 Western variety of the common species. P. Occident alls, and, probably, even 

 P. caro/iiioisiti, may even fall under the same category, their peculiarities 

 of color and size being precisely such as would a jjriori be exjiected from 

 their geographical distribution. 



Habit.s. The Long-tailed Titmouse appears to have an extended distribu- 

 tion between the Missi.ssippi Valley and the IJocky Mountains, from Texas 

 into the British Possessions, siiecimens having been received from Fort 

 Simpson and Lake Winnipeg. Among the ncjtes of the late Robert Ken- 

 nicott is one dated Lake Wiimipeg, -Tune G, mentioning the dissection of a 

 female of this species found to contain a full-sized egg. A memorandum 

 made by Mr. Ross, dated at Fort William, May 15, sjieaks of this bird 

 as abundant at Fort Simpson, from x\vigust until November, the last having 

 been seen Xovember 10. One was shot, June 2, on Winnipeg River, "a 

 female, who was about to lay her egg." 



In regard to its distinct individual history but little is as yet known. It 

 was discovered and first described by the late Edward Harris, of New Jersey, 

 who accompanied ^Ir. Audubon in his expedition to the upper branches of 

 the Missouri River, and who obtained this bird on the Yellowstone, about 

 thirty miles above its junction with the Missouri, on the 26th of July. He 

 describes its notes as similar to those of the common atricapiUvs, but less 

 harsh and querulous, and more licjuid in their utterance. Subsequently 

 specimens were obtained Ijy Mr. Keru, artist to the exploring exjiedition 

 under Fremont in 1840. 



It is the largest species of this genus in America. In its breeding-habits 

 it is not diflerent from the Eastern representatives. Mr. R F. Goss found 

 this species breeding abundantly nt Neosho Falls, in Kansas. Tliey nest in 

 decayed stumps, hollow trees, branches, logs, etc., after the manner of the 

 atricitpi/lus. The excavation is usually ten or twelve inches, and even 

 metre, in deijth. The nest is warmly made of a loose soft felt composed of 

 the fur and fine hnir of small ([uadrupeds, feathers, and tlie finer mosses. 



