PARID.E — THE TITMICE. HI 



Had. Southern Rocky Mountain rojrion of Fnitoil Ptatos, from mountains of Wost 

 Arizona to Green Kiver, Wyoming; west to Carson City, Nevada (Uir)GWAYj. 



This variety is very similar to tlic Ptudtyipnviis minimus of the west coast, 

 which it represents in the Kocky Momitaiu region. It is, however, apprecia- 

 bly larger, the wings and tail proportionally longer. The top of the head is 

 plumbeous, nnilbrm with the bu(!k, instead of smoky-brown. The back is a 

 paler ash, the nnder parts darker. 



HiUJiTs. Of the history of this variety but little is known. It is found in 

 the southern portion of the Iiocky Mountain regions, within the United 

 States, in Arizona and Xew jMexico. Tlie extent of its area of distribution 

 remains to be ascertained. \)v. Kennerly met with it on Little Colorado 

 I{i\ er, where he observed it among the scattered bushes along the banks of 

 tlie river, occurring in large flocks. These passed rajjidly from place to place, 

 uttering their short, (piick notes. He afterward met with them along the 

 head waters of Hill Williams Fork, inhabiting the tops of the cotton-wood 

 trees. "When attracted to them by their notes, they could oidy be seen after 

 a very careful search. Ho obtained no knowledge as to their mode of nest- 

 ing, and no information, so far as we are aware, has been obtained in regard 

 to their eggs. It may, however, be safely conjectured that they are white, 

 and hanlly distinguishable fiom those of the minimus. Dr. Cones found 

 them common near Fort Whipple, Arizona. 



Mr. Iiidgway met with this bird in especial abundance among the canons 

 of West Humboldt ^louiitains in September. He found it also in all suit- 

 able places westward to the very base of the Sierra Nevada ^lountains. It 

 was met witli principally in the thick brushwood bordering the streams, in 

 ever-restless companies, continually twittering as they flew from bush to 

 bush, in single rows. !Mr. Iiidgway describes these birds as remarkably 

 active in their movements. If unmolested, they were exceedingly unsus- 

 picious and familiar. During November he found them inhabiting the 

 cedars, always associating in scattered flocks. 



Genus AURIPARirS, Baikd. 



Aiiripants, Baiud, Rev. Am. Hiids, 1804, 85. (Typo, ^-EijiUuilns jUivkcps, SuND.) 



Ges. Ciiau. Form sylvicoline. Bill conieal, nearly .wtraight, and very acute ; the eoin- 

 mi.ssuro very shghtly and gently curved. Nostrils concealed by decumbent l)ristle.'^. 

 Wings long, little rounded; the Hrst quill half the second; third, fourth, and liflh quills 

 nearly ei[ual, ami longest. Tail slightly graduated. Lateral toes equal, the anterior united 

 at the extreme ba.se. Hind toe small, about ui^uul to tho lateral. Tarsus but little longer 

 than the middle toe. 



This genus is closely allied to Paroiths of Euro]ie, as shown in Birds of 

 North America (p. <id\)), tliongh suflieiently difl'erent. It is much more syl- 

 vicoline in appearance than the other American Paridxv. 



