268 



SYSTEMATIC SYNOPSIS. —PAS8EBES— 08CINES. 



white, unmarked. The three species are western ; they are notable for their diminutive size, 

 scarcely equalling a Polioptila in bulk. 



Analysis of Species. 



Crown brown, unlike back ; no black on side of liead . 



Crown like back ; no black on side of head 



Crown ash, unlike back ; a black stripe on side of bead 



53 

 64 

 55 



(J 9 : Dull lead-color, 



53. P. min'imus. (Lat. mmimus, least, smallest.) Least Bush-tit. 

 frequently with a brown- 

 ish or olivaceous shade, 

 the top of the head ab- 

 ruptly darker — clove- 

 brown or hair-brown. 

 Below sordid whitish, or 

 brownish-white. Wings 

 and tail dusky, vrith 

 slight hoary edgings. 

 BUI and feet black. 

 Length 4.00 or less ; 

 wing scarcely or not 

 2.00; tail 3.00 or more; 

 bUl 0.25; tarsus 0.60. 

 Young birds do not dif- 

 fer materially. There is 

 considerable variation in 

 the precise shade of the 

 body, but the brown cap 

 always differs in color 

 from the rest of the up- 

 per parts. Pacific coast 

 region of the U. S. 



54. P. plum'beus. (Lat. 

 plumbeus, lead-colored.) 

 Plumbeous Bush-tit. 

 (J 9 : Clear plumbeous, 

 with little or no olive 

 or brownish shade ; top 

 of head not different 

 from the back ; sides 

 of head pale brownish. 

 Under parts as in P. 

 nwmmm, but clearer. 

 Tail longer than wings. 

 Eyes yellow or dark brown. Length about 4.25 ; vring 1.88-2.12 ; tail 2.25-2.50 ; bill 

 0.25 ; tarsus 0.60. Very closely related to P. minimus ; but specimens are readily distin- 

 guishable. Total length greater, owing to elongation of the tail, which sometimes exceeds 

 the wings by 0.50. General coloration clearer and purer; crown not different in color from the 

 back, but cheeks brownish in obvious contrast. Southern Eocky Mt. region, from Wyoming 

 and Nevada southward ; common in Arizona. 



55. P. melano'tis. (Gr. jueXac, melas, gen. ficXavos, meloMOS, black ; oSs, ous, gen. oitSs, otos, ear.) 

 Black-eared Bush-tit. ^, adult: Sides of head broadly black with greenish lustre, the 



Least Bush-tit and nest, about i nat. size. (Ad nat. del. H. W. 



