124 PSALTRIPARUS — P. MINIMUS 



the tail, would rank next to the Hummingbirds in dwarfish- 

 ness. One author has called them "fairy" Titmice, doubtlesa 

 thinking of their elfish aspect; nevertheless, they are more posi- 

 tive and substantial pygmies than those we fancy at the court 

 of Queen Mab ; while, as for the hanging castles they build,, 

 there is room enough in them for all the 'fairies that ever were 

 seen. 



The species inhabiting the Colorado Basin is appreciably dif- 

 ferent from that of the Pacific coast region, though so closely 

 related that combination of the two under one specific name 

 may be required. The synonymy and characters of the origi- 

 nal species* are subjoined for comparison, especially as it 

 extends to the very border of the Colorado watershed. 



There is a third species of this genus, the Black-eared Bush- 

 tit (P. melanotis), which we may expect to find in the region 

 under consideration. It has been for some years admitted to 

 the United States fauna, on the strength of its occurrence near 

 the Mexican Boundary, but I am not aware that it has actually 

 been known to cross over the border. It is supposed to have 

 been seen in Nevada by Mr. Eidgway. 



' P!>taltriparns minimas.— I.east Bnsh-tit. 



Parus miDtinus, Towns. Journ. Phila. Acad. vil. 1837, 190 (Columbia River).— Bp, C. 



& RL. 1838, W.—Aud. OB. iv. 1838, 383, pi. 353, f. 5, 8.— Towns. Journ. Phila. Acad. 



Tiii. 1839, 152.— Aiid. Syn. 1839, SO.— Aud. BA. ii. Ifl41, 160, pi. 130.— ffltrai. Pr. Phila. 



Acad. iii. 1846, 155 (California).— GaraJ. Journ. Phila. Acad. i. 1847, 36.—(?)I-teiirij, Pr. 



Phila. Acad. vii. 1835, 309. 

 Poecila minimus, Bp. CA. i. 1830, 330. 



Fsaltrla minima, Cass. in. 1853, W.—Heerm. Journ. Phila. Acad. ii. 1853, 964.— Sci. PZS. 



1857, 126 (California).— /feerm. PRRR. x. 1859, 43, 

 Psallriparns minlmns, Bp. CR. xxxvlli. 1854, 62.— Bd. BNA. 185=, 397.— XaJlI. Pr. Phila. 



Acad. xi. 1859, 191 (California).- HSiiry, Pr. Phila. Acad. xi. 1859, 107.— Coop, if Suckl. 



NHWT. 1860, 193.— BA RAB.1864, U.—Ooop. B. Cal. i. 1870, 48, i^.-Coop. Am. Nat. 



iv. 1871, 7S7.—00IU1S, Key, 1872, 82 Coop. Am. Nat. viii. 1874, n.—Nels. Pr. Bost. Soc 



xvii. 1875, 356 (CalUornia). 

 Psaltrlparus minimus var. minimus, B. B. if R. NAB. i. 1874, 109, fig. pi. 7, f. 9. 

 Cbestnut-crowned Titmouse, least Titmouse, least Tit, Least liush-tlt, Authors. 



Hab. — Pacific Coast region of the Unitud States. 



Ch, .sp. — g 9 Sordldi plunibeus, infra albidus, verthe bmiinesceiite. 



S 2 : Dulllead-oolor, frequently with a brownish or olivaceous shade, the 

 top of the head abruptly darker — clove-brown or hair-brosvu. Below sordid 

 whitislj, or brownish-wliite. Wings and tail dusky, with slight hoary edgings. 

 Bill aud feet black. Leugth, 4 inches or rather less ; wing scarcely or not 

 2 inches; tail, 2 inches or a little more ; bill, J; tarsus, *. 



Young birds do not differ materially. There is oousiderable variation in 

 the precise shade of the body, but the species always presents the brown cap 

 appreciably diilerent in color from the rast of the upper parts. 



