MR. GAMBEL ON THE BIRDS OF CALIFORNIA. 35 



continued pwit, pwit, pwit, pwit, pwit, may be heard. Again, in pleasant weather 

 towards spring, I have heard them answering one another, sitting upon a low 

 twig, and singing in a less solemn strain, not unlike a sparrow, a lively pit, pit, pit, 

 tr r r r r r r r ; but if disturbed, at once resuming their grating scold. 



PARUS, Linn. 

 Plate VIII., fig. 2. 



34. P. *iN0RNATUs, Gamb. Plain Titmouse. Proceed. Acad. Nat. Sc, vol. ii., p. 265. 



Male. — Crested: above olive brown ; beneath greyish white, with a slight tinge of brownish on the flanks. 

 Front close to bill, round eye and ears grizzled grey. Crest high and pointed like that of the 

 P. bicolqr. Bill and feet leaden-blue, the former very stout and blunt. Wings and tail dark-brown, 

 the feathers edged with the same colour as the back; some of the primaries also with a faint edging 

 of whitish. Irids wood-brown. 1st primary half the length of the 2d ; 4th, 5th and 6th equal. 

 Extent of wings a little over 8 inches. Wing from flexure 2| inches. Tail nearly even, 2k inches. 

 Total length 5| inches. 



The Plain Titmouse I first discovered near Monterey, on the 20th of November. 

 It was actively flitting about among the evergreen oaks of the vicinity, in company 

 with large flocks of the Chestnut-backed and Least Titmouse, all in restless activity, 

 searching every branch for insects. 



Among the busy throng I could not well distinguish its notes, but they appeared 

 to resemble very much those of the common Black-cap, and on my following it up> 

 uttered a loud scold, erecting its high and pointed crest, and looking as angry as ■ 

 possible at'the intrusion. 



I afterwards found it common, frequenting in small flocks tall bushes and branches 

 of low trees, uttering a weak and slender tsee daij day, tsee day day dail. 



Plate VIIL, fig. 1. 



35. P. *M0NTANUS, Gamb. Rocky Mountain Titmouse. Proceed. Acad. Nat. Sc, 

 vol. i., p. 259. 



Male. — Head, upper part of the back, throat, and upper part of the breast pure black ; two white stripes 

 commence on the front and extend over the head about the length of it, leaving a black band in the 

 centre and a stripe running over each eye to the nape ; cheeks and shoulders white. Wings and tail 

 brownish grey ; beneath whitish ; tinged with brown on the sides and vent. Legs bluish. Length a 

 little over five inches. Tail two and a half inches. 



This new and distinct species I first observed about a day's journey from Santa 

 Fe, in New Mexico, and from thence in all the ranges of the Rocky Mountains 

 nearly to California. Its manners and notes are very much like those of the common 

 Chickadee, but the latter are more weak and varied. It keeps also much in lov»- 

 bushes, where, from morning to night, with untiring patience and activity, it may be 

 seen hopping from bush to bush, searching them minutely for small insects. It also 

 frequently descends to the ground to pick up small seeds ; when thus occupied it 



