36 MR. GAMBEL ON THE BIRDS OF CALIFORNIA. 



occasionally stops, looks around and utters a slender te de de de, then altering to Je de 

 dait, flies off to some other bush. On the Rio Colorado it kept much in the cotton 

 wood trees which grew along its banks, and its notes, which became familiar, were 

 almost the only ones heard in the winter, when we were there, to cheer our course. 

 This species is sometimes seen in company with the P. minimus and Regidus calendula, 

 which at this time are roving in large and busy flocks along the small streams. 



Although so very abundant in the western ranges of the Rocky Mountains, par- 

 ticularly near the great Salt Lake, where in some of the high wooded mountains the 

 trees were almost alive with them, yet I never saw them on the other side of the 

 Californian ridge, much to my surprise, where the other species of Titmice so abound. 

 It is at once distinguished from the P. atricapillus, by the two white lines running 

 over the top of the head to the occiput, and by its much larger and stouter bill. 



36. P. RUFESCENS, Towns. Chestnut-backed Titmouse. 



In the latter part of summer and during the winter season, the young of this species 

 are found around Monterey in large flocks. 



37. P. BiiNiMUS, Towns. Least Titmouse. 



This interesting and most diminutive bird, is exceedingly abundant in the Rocky 



Mountains and California. During winter, the otherwise cheerless woods are alive 



with busy, noisy troops of these industrious birds, gleaning their scanty fare in 



. company with the Ruby-crowned Kinglet, in every possible manner and position 



from bush or tree. 



It is curious to watch them in this anxious solicitous search for food, keeping up a 

 continual twittering ; so intent are they in their employment, that they appear to lose 

 sight of danger, and often have I been so surrounded by a flock, that I could have 

 almost caught them in my hands. 



The above new species, together with the P. septentrionalis, recently described by 

 my friend, Mr. Edward Harris, in the Proceedings of the Academy, have increased 

 the number of North American Titmice, exclusive of the Ground Tit, to nine species. 



REGULUS, Cuv. 



38. R. CALENDULA, Licht. Ruby crowned Kinglet. 



This species, like many of the most diminutive birds, is also found distributed over 

 the whole extent of North America, thereby showing its connexion as a single zoo- 

 logical centre, or province of creation. 



In the highest ranges of the Rocky mountains, we met with the Ruby-crowned 

 Wren in large flocks ; roaming in company with the Parus minitnus, also in large 

 flocks; enlivening those dreary solitudes with their restless activity and twittering 

 while in search of food. Throughout California it is equally abundant. 



