354 LAND BIRDS 



Nest : In deserted woodpecker hole, or in natural cavity in stub, from 2 

 to 10 feet from the ground ; lined with cow hair, rabbit fur, wool, or 

 moss. 



Eggs: 5 to 9 ; white, sparsely specked with rusty. Size 0.63 X 0.47. 



The Californian Chickadee is confined to the coast 

 region of California, and, Mr. Otto Emerson says, can 

 always be found in the redwood belt. In habits it is 

 similar to the chestnut-backed chickadee, nesting rather 

 higher up in the trees than the mountain variety. 



744. LEAD-COLORED BUSH-TIT. — Psaltriparus 

 plumbeus. 



Family : The Nuthatches and Tits. 



Length: 4.12-4.60. 



Adults : Upper parts bluish gray ; sides of head brown ; under parts 



gray, merging to white on middle of breast ; belly washed with light 



grayish brown. 

 Geographical Distribution: Rocky Mountain district west to the Sierra 



Nevada, south to New Mexico and Arizona. 

 California Breeding Range: Desert ranges southeast of the Sierra 



Nevada. 

 Breeding Season : April. 

 Nest : Pensile ; gourdlike in form ; of plant down, white sage leaves, 



spider webs, small bits of lichens and moss ; the whole carefully lined 



with small feathers. Entrance, small round hole in wall of nest near 



the top. Walls 1J inches thick at bottom, but § inch thick at top. 



Nest placed in low oaks and nut pines, 12 to 15 feet from the ground. 

 Eggs: 4; white. Size 0.53 X 0.40. 



The Lead-colored Bush-tit is a common resident of 

 the desert ranges southeast of the Sierra Nevada, feeding 

 in the junipers and nut pines, and usually to be seen in 

 flocks. 



Their constant twittering, though so faint, reminds 

 one of the chatter of a flock of English sparrows, and 



