miWa OF ILLINOIS. 



Family PASID-ffi.— The Titmice and NuTnATCHKs. 



, Charaotees. Bill more or less conical, without notch, the nasal feathers directed for- 

 ward and usually concealing the nostrils. S ze small (wing less than four inches lonjr.) 

 Tarsi distinctly scutellale. 



The above characters are dra\Mi up to include Chamaa, whose 

 claim to a place in the Family Paridse is a matter of serious doubt. 

 Silta, although appearing so very distinct from the typical Paridce 

 is yet so closely connected through Palfearctic forms of the latter 

 (as Parus varius of Japan) that there can be no doubt of its belong- 

 ing to the same family. 



The North American subfamilies, including Chaiiuea, may be de- 

 fined as follows : — 



a.' Bill stout, much shorter than head. Tail about as long as the wing, or 

 longer. Hallux shorter than middle toe. 

 6.' Nostrils concealed by feathers. Tarsus with anterior covering scu- 



tellate on outer side Parinae. 



h.^ Nostrils exposed. Tarsus with anterior covering fused on outer side . . Chamseinae . 

 n.' Bill slender, as long as the head. Tail much shorter than the wing. Hallux 



longer than middle toe Sittinae. 



Subfamily PARIN.aS.— The Titmice. 



This subfamily, as above characterized, includes three North 

 A merican Genera, which may be defined as follows : — 



a'. Bill with either the culmen or gonys decidedly convex. Nostrils wholly 

 concealed. Plumage very lax. 



I)'. Tail about equal to ornot much longer than wing, rounded Pams. 



c'. Head not crested (Subgenus Parux.) 



c^. Head crested (Subgenus Lophophartps.) 



h". Tail much longer than wing, graduated Psaltripams. 



a'. Bill with both culmen and gonys nearly straight, the tip acute. Nostrils 



partly exposed. Plumage rather compact Auxipams. 



The genera Psaltriparus and Auriparus, as well as the subfamily 



Cliamiebue (the latter including the single genus Clmm<ca), are cxtra- 



limital, belonging to the southwestern portions of the United States. 



Genus PARUS Linn.5;us. 

 Subgenus liOpliophanes Kaup. 



Lophophanes KiUP. Eatw. Oesch. Europ. Thior. 18;!i>. Type. Paras cristatus Linn. 



liie'ilophun Cabanis. .Mas. Hein. 1850. B51, 91. Type, P.iras bicolor LInn. 



"Gen. Chab. Crown with a conspicuous crest. Bill conical: both upper and lower 

 outlines convex. Wings graduated: first quill very short. Tail moderately long and 

 rounded. Nests in hollow trees: eggs white with Hue red dottings." lllist. y. Am. li.) 



