BIRDS OF THE UNITED STATES. 
127 
Plate XXII. 
PSALTKIPAKUS MINIMUS, (Townsend) Bonaparte. 
Least Tit. 
The Least Tit, introduced to the notice of ornithologists hy Mr. 
Townsend in 1837, is exclusively a denizen of the country bordering on 
the Pacific Ocean. It inhabits the whole region stretching from Fort 
Steilacoom, in Washington Territory, to Fort Tejon, in California. Ac- 
cording to Dr. Gambel, it is not only abundant throughout California, but 
is also an occujiant of the Bocky Mountains. But as this author wrote at 
a period anterior to that which marked the se^iaration of this species from 
its nearest kin — the Plumbeous Tit — it is believed by Dr. Coues that those 
nice shades of difference which climate or other influences have impressed 
upon the Rocky Mountain birds were unobserved by him, and that he was 
thus led to consider the two species identical. 
Although these birds have been deemed migratory in Washington 
Territory, as the writings of Drs. Cooper and Suckley would lead us to 
infer, yet there is strong evidence for believing that it is not wholly the 
case. From observations made by Mr. Townsend, we learn that they are 
quite common during the winter, and may be seen in great numbers hop- 
ping around among the bushes, or hanging head downwards from leafless 
twigs after the fashion of other Titmice. While thus engaged in search 
of the pupa of insects, they are very reckless, and keep up a continual 
twittering. Their notes are rapidly enunciated, and have been likened to 
the words thshish tshist-tsee-twee, the last two syllables bearing a slight 
resemblance to the concluding strains of our Eastern Chickadee. 
AVhile gleaning for food, these noisy beings go in companies. Troops 
of fifties and sixties, and some say hundreds, travel through the woods, 
