266 



SYSTEMATIC SYNOPSIS.— PA SSEBES— OSCINES. 



45. 



parts more or less purely white or whitish, shaded on the sides with a brownish or rusty wash. 

 Wings and tail like upper parts, the feathers raoderately edged with hoary-white. Average 

 dimensions: length 5.25; extent 8.00; wing and tail, 

 each, 2.50; tarsus 0.70. Extremes: length 4.75-5.50; 

 extent 7.50-8.50; wing and tail 2.35-2.65; tarsus 0.65- 

 0.75. Eastern N. Am., from the Middle States northward, 

 very abundant, well-known by its familiar habits and pecu- 

 liar notes. Nest in holes of trees, stumps, or fences, natural 

 or excavated by the bird, made of grasses, mosses, hair, fur, 

 feathers, etc. ; eggs ^-8, 0.58 X 0.47, white, fully sprinkled 

 with reddish-brown dots and spots. 

 P. a. septentrionalis. (Lat. septentrionalis, northern ; 



46. 



47. 



879. 



48. 



Fig. 138. — Black-capped Chickadeo, 

 reduced. (Adnat. del. E. C.) 



septentriones, the constellation of seven stars, the dipper.) 

 Long-tailed Chickadee. Similar to P. atricapiUus; 

 averaging larger, and especially longer-tailed, the tail 

 rather exceeding the vring in length. Coloration clear and 

 pure; wings and tail very strongly edged, especially on 

 the secondaries and outer tail-feathers, with hoary-white, 

 which usually passes entirely around their tips. Cap pure 

 black and very extensive on the nape ; black of throat 

 reaching iSreast ; sides of head and neck snowy-white. 

 BiU and feet dark plumbeous. Average dimensions about 

 the maxima of P. atricapiUus: length 5.25-5.50; extent 

 8.50 ; wing 2.50-2.75 ; tail 2.60-2.80, sometimes 3.00. This style reaches its extreme devel- 

 opment in the region of the Upper Missouri and Eooky Mts., there apparently to the exclusion 

 of P. atricapiUus proper. 



P. a. occidenta'lis. (Lat. occidentalis, western; occido, I fall; i. e., where the sun sets.) 

 Westekn Chickadee. Similar to P. atricapiUus; of the same average size; presenting 

 the opposite extreme from P. septentrionalis in minimum edging of vidng- and tail-feathers 

 with hoary, heavy brownish wash of sides, and general dark sordid coloration. U. S., Pacific 

 coast region. 



P. carolinen'sis. (Lat. of Carolina.) Carolina Chickadee. Averaging smaller than P. 

 atricapiUus, with relatively as well as absolutely shorter tail, which is rather shorter than the 

 wings ; wings and tail very little edged with whitish. Average dimensions about at the minima of 

 P. atricapiUus. Length about 4.50 ; wing 2.50; tail 3.25. South Atlantic and Gulf States; 

 N. to Washington and Southern Illinois. Nesting like P. atricapiUus; eggs similar, rather 

 smaller. 



P. meridiona'lis. (Lat. meridionalis, southern.) Mexican Chickadee. Differs decidedly 

 from P. atricapiUus in having the under parts merely a paler shade of the ashy of the upper, 

 instead of white, without any brownish wash on sides ; vidng-coverts and tail lacking any 

 hoary edging, though the wing-quiUs have a slight grayish- 

 white edging. Thus quite like P. montamus in color, but no 

 white superciliary stripe. Length 4.80-5.20; extent 8.00- 

 8.70; wing 2.67-2.90 ; tail 2.40-2.67. Mexico, recently ascer- 

 tained to occur in Arizona. (Numbered among addenda in 

 the Check List, 1882.) 



P. monta'nus. (Lat. montanus, of mountains. Fig. 139.) 

 Mountain Chickadee. Upper parts ashy-gray, with scarcely 



a shade, and only on the rump, of the ochraceous seen in most nat. size. (Ad nat. del. B. 0.) 

 other species ; under parts similarly grayish-white, without a rusty tinge, the middle of the 



Fig. 139. — Mountain Chickadee, 



