558 NORTH AMERICAN BIRDS. 



a % . Lower parts pale brownish gray, becoming white only on chin and throat ; pri- 

 mary coverts usually (always ?) without whitish tips ; rump deep rusty, 

 almost chestnut, and colors throughout very dark, the prevailing color of 

 upper parts dark sepia-brown ; length about 4.80-5.60, wing 2.55-2.60 (2.58), 

 tail 2.65, culmen .70-.73 (.71), bill from nostril A2-AB (.44), tarsus .58-.60 

 (.59), hind-toe .30-.35 (.32), hind-claw .30-.35 (.32). Hab. Highlands of Gua- 

 temala and Mexico, north into southern Arizona. 



726a. C. familiaris mexicana (Gloq.). Mexican Creeper. 



Family PARIDiE .— The Nuthatches and Tits. (Page 322.) 



Genera. 



a x . Bill slender, long as the head ; hind-toe longer than middle toe ; tail much 

 shorter than wing, varied with white and black. (Subfamily Sittinm.) 



Sitta. (Page 559.) 

 a". Bill stouter, much shorter than the head ; hind-toe shorter than middle toe ; 

 tail equal to or longer than wing, plain-colored. 

 b l . Nostrils concealed by feathers ; tarsus with anterior covering scutellate on 

 outer side ; tail graduated for much less than half its length. (Sub- 

 family Parince. 1 ) 

 c 1 . Bill with either the culmen or the gonys (sometimes both) decidedly 

 convex ; nostrils wholly concealed ; plumage very lax. 

 d l . Tail not conspicuously longer than .wing, rounded. 



Parus. (Page 560.) 

 d*. Tail conspicuously longer than wing, graduated. 



Psaltriparus. (Page 564.) 

 c a . Bill with both culmen and gonys nearly straight, the tip acute ; nos- 

 trils partially exposed; plumage compact.. Auriparus. (Page 565.) 

 W. Nostrils entirely exposed ; tarsus with anterior covering fused or booted 

 on outer side; tail graduated for about half its length. (Subfamily 

 Chamceince.) Chamsea. (Page 566.) 



(.lb), bill from nostril .40-.52 (.46), tarsus .68-.60 (.59), hind-toe .28-.30 (.29), hind-daw .30-.35 

 (.33). Eggs .59 X -40. Hab, Rooky Mountain district, north to Alaska, west to Novada, eto. 



C. familiaris montana Rmow. Rooky Mountain Creeper. 

 (Certlria montana RiDaw., Proo. U. S. Nat. Mus. v. July 8, 1882, 114.) 

 a 2 . Darker and more rusty in general east of plumage, the lateral lower parts more or less (often strongly) 

 tinged with brownish, streaks on uppor parts more brownish (often dooidodly tawny), the rump more 

 rusty, superciliary stripe more brownish (often bright tawny), and wing-markings dooidedly buffy. 

 Wing 2.40-2.50 (2.47), tail 2.30-2.70 (2.45), oulmon .08-.80 (.12), bill from nostril .42-.50 (.44), tarsus 

 .55-.65 (.59), hind-toe .28-.32 (.30), hind-olaw .30-.35 (.32). Eggs .61 x .48. ffnb. Paoiflo ooast 

 of North Amerioa, from southern California (in mountains) to Sitka. 



C. familiaris oooidentalis Rrosw. Californian Creeper. 

 (Certhia occidentalis Ridhw., Proo. U. S. Nat. Mus. v. July 8, 1882, 116.) 

 1 I have been obliged to assign different limits to the subfamilios Parinte and Chamtminm from those given 

 in the A. 0. U. Cheek List, on aeoount of the impossibility of giving oharaotors whioh would oovor the ex- 

 tremely different genera there inadvertently plaoed under Ohammituc. The latter properly includes only Chamma ; 

 and it is extremely doubtful whether this genus has any real affinity with the Paridee, its relationship being 

 probably much nearer to the Troglodytida, 



