53. 
54. 
255. 
body, but the brown cap 
268 SYSTEMATIC SYNOPSIS. —PASSERES — OSCINES. 
white, unmarked. The three species are western; they are notable for their diminutive size, 
searcely equalling a Polioptila in bulk. 
! Analysis of Species. 
Crown brown, unlike back ; no black on side of head . ogee a ee a a a Se - minimus 53 
Crown like back ; no black on side ofhead. . . . Ss ae a i B58 . . plumbeus 54 
Crown ash, unlike back ; a black stripe on side of head : . is ds . . .melanotis 55 
P. min/‘imus. (Lat. minimus, least, smallest.) Jee Busx-tit. & 9: Dull lead-color, 
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, with 
slight hoary edgings. 
Bill and feet black. 
Length 4.00 or less; 
wing scarcely or not 
2.00; tail 2.00 or more; 
pill 0.25; tarsus 0.60. 
Young birds do not dif- 
fer materially. There is 
considerable variation in 
the precise shade of the 
always differs in color 
from the rest of the up- 
per parts. Pacific coast 
region of the U. 8. 
P. plum'beus. = (Lat. 
plumbeus, lead-colored.) 
Piumseous Busu-tir. 
62: 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. 
minimus, but clearer. 
Tail longer than wings. 
Eyes yellow or dark brown. Length about 4.25; wing 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’ clongation 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 Rocky Mt. region, from Wyoming 
and Nevada southward; common in Arizona. 
P. melano’tis. (Gr. pédas, melas, yon, pédavos, melanos, black ; ods, ous, gen. dds, otos, ear.) 
BLACK-EARED Busu-TiT. , adult: Sides of head broadly black with greenish lustre, the 
Fic. 140. — Least Bush-tit and nest, about ? nat. size. (Ad nat. del. H. W. 
Elliott.) 
