CHESTNUT CROWNED TITMOUSE. 383 
It is a constant resident about the Columbia River ; hops about in the 
bushes, and frequently hangs from the twigs in the manner of other 
Titmice, twittering all the while with a rapid enunciation resembling 
the words thshish, tshist, tsee, twee. The irides are bright yellow.” 
Parus minimus, Townsend, Journal of Acad. Nat. Sciences of Philadelphia, vol. vii. 
p- 190. 
Adult Male. Plate CCCLIII. Fig. 5. 
Bill short, strong, compressed; upper mandible with its outline 
arched, the sides sloping and convex. The edges sharp, the tip de- 
scending, acute, and considerably exceeding that of the lower ; which 
has the angle short, the dorsal line ascending and very slightly convex, 
the edges sharp, the tip acute. Nostrils round, basal. Head rather 
large, broadly ovate, convex in front; neck short ; body slender. Feet 
of moderate length, tarsus proportionally longer than in any other 
American species, stout, compressed, with seven anterior scutella, and 
two lateral plates, forming a very sharp edge behind. Toes mode- 
rately stout, the first with its claw equal to the third, the anterior uni- 
ted as far as the first web. Claws rather large, arched, compressed, 
acute. 
Plumage soft and blended. Wings, short, very broad, concave, 
rounded ; first quill half the length of the second, which is a quarter 
of an inch shorter than the outer secondaries. Tail very long, being 
half the entire length of the bird, slightly arched, much rounded, and 
a little emarginate. 
Bill black ; feet and claws dusky or blackish brown. Upper part 
of the head, and hind neck dull greyish brown; upper parts brownish- 
grey; wings and tail dusky brown, tinged with grey, the margins of 
the quills and tail-feathers greyish-white. Cheeks of a paler tint than 
the head ; all the lower parts brownish-white, the sides tinged with 
reddish. 
Length to end of tail 44 inches; wing from flexure 1%; tail 2,4 : 
bill along the ridge #, ; tarsus 7%; hind toe %, its claw 4, ; middle 
toe 7‘, its claw 3. 
Adult Female. Plate CCCLIII. 
The Female is rather smaller, and its colours are somewhat paler. 
