I'ARID.E— THE TITMICE. 109 



(.1 



Fsaltriparus minimus, var. minimus, Bonap. 



LEAST BtrSH-nTHOTJSE. 



Panm minimus, Town.sknd, .1. A. N. Sc. VII, ir, 1837, 100. — Arn. Orn. Biog. IV, 1838, 

 382, 111. cedxxxii, tij,'s. fi, (i. — In. Birds Am. II, 1841, 160, pi. cxxx. Pavilc minima, 

 Bon. Con.sp. 1850, 230. I'.iaUria minium, ('a.-^sin, lllust. 18.53, 20. I'ml/ri/innin 

 minimiui. Box. C. li. XX.WIll, 18,'i4, 62. — Baikd, Birds N. Am. ISi'.S, 3i»7 ; l!i- 

 view, 84. — Cooi'EU & Suckley, P. K. U. Kep. Xll, ii, 1851), 195. — (Jocu'EU, Birds 

 Cal. I, 48. 



Sp. CiiAii. Tail loiip-, feathers graduated. Above ratlujr dark olivaeeoiis-cinorcons ; 

 top and sides of head smoky-brown. Beneath pale whitish-brown, darker on the sides. 

 Length about 4 inches ; winjr, 1.00 ; tail, 2.25. 



IIab. Pacific coast of United States. 



There is (juite an appreciable tlifl'eretice between specimens of this species 

 from Washington Territory and California ; the latter are smaller, the under 

 parts paler. In the series before us, however, we see no grounds for 

 specific distinction. 



Hauits. This interestinjf little species was first added to our fauna by the 

 indefatigable Mr. Town.send in 1837. It 

 is abundant throughout the I'acific coast 

 from Fort Steikcoora to Fort Tejon. Dr. 

 Gambel found it exceedingly abundant 

 both in the Kocky jMountains and through- 

 out California. During the winter the 

 otherwise cheerless woods were alive with 

 the busy and noisy troops of these restless 

 and industrious birds, gleaning their scanty _ „ . 



' n ri J Psaltnixtrus minimus. 



fare in company with the licguli, in every 



possible position and manner, from bush and tree. He describes their anx- 

 ious solicitous searcli for food as (|uite curious. They kei)t up a continual 

 twittering, and so intent were tliey in their eniitloyment that they api)eared 

 to lose sight of all danger, and it was by no means uiuisual to be so sur- 

 rounded by a flock as almost to render it possible to catch them in the haiul. 

 Dr. Cooper found this species abundant in Washington Territory, but 

 never met with it north of the Columliia Kiver. Dr. Suckley says it is (piite 

 common at Fort Steilacoom. He could not, however, detect any din'erence 

 in its habits from those of other s])ecies of this family. He saw none in 

 Washington Territory during the winter, and presumes they all migrate to 

 the South, though the riifcsccns and the ovci(hntalU are found there through- 

 out the winter. Towiisend, however, sp(!aks of it as a constant resident 

 about the Columbia lliver, hopping around among the bushes, hanging from 

 the twigs in the manner of other Titmice, twittering all tlie while with a 

 rapid enunciation resembling the words tJiNhLsh txhitit-ttiec-twcc. 



