BIRDS PARIDAE PARUS CAROLINENSIS. 
393 
and seventh, which are equal ; the second quill is appreciably longer than the longest second- 
aries. The tail is slightly rounded, the greatest difference in length of the feathers being .15 
of an inch. 
The top of the head and upper part of the neck are black, this color coming down to the 
lower edge of the eye. The under part of the head and the anterior part of the throat are 
also hlack, this color not extending as far back below as above. The space between the black 
patches is white, which borders the upper one ohscurely on the posterior portion of the side, 
but not on the posterior extremity. It also suffuses the posterior portion of the black of the 
throat. The under parts are dirty white, on the sides and posteriorly tinged with pale brownish. 
The upper parts are of a dirty bluish ash, tinged with yellowish brown, especially on the rump. 
The quills are all margined with bluish ash, like the back, which is a little paler on the inner- 
most secondaries, and third to seventh primaries, but not conspicuously so ; not at all white. 
Outer webs of tail feathers all edged with the color of the back, becoming rather lighter from 
the central to the external ones ; never white, however, nor with a well defined line of demark- 
ation on the outer web of the outer tail feather. 
This species is very similar to the P. atricapillus, and were they to be separated by a wide 
interval of locality it might be a question whether it might not be a mere variety. As, however, 
both are found together in the middle States, and preserving their characteristics, there will be 
little risk in considering them distinct. 
This species is, in general, rather smaller than P. atricajrillus, although the tail and wing 
appear of much the same size. The body and feet are, however, smaller, the extent of wing 
three-quarters of an inch less. The bill is apparently shorter and stouter. The difference in 
size is, perhaps, even greater than that given by the measurement, as, without a male P. atri- 
capilhs or female carolinensis before me at the time of writing, I am obliged to compare males 
of the smaller kind with the female of the larger. 
The primaries are proportionally and absolutely considerably longer than the secondaries in 
the present species, the difference being .55 of an inch, instead of .45. The tail is rather more 
rounded, the feathers narrower. 
The only difference in color appreciable in the specimens before me is the absence of the 
strongly whitish edgings to the outer tail feathers, the third to the seventh primaries, and the 
secondaries, the latter especially. There is a lighter shade on these parts, but never of the 
almost white and well defined character seen in P. atricapillus . 
List of specimens. 
Catal. 
No. 
Sex. 
Locality. 
When collected. 
hence obtained. 
Collected by— 
Length. 
Stretch 
of wings. 
607 
3 
Washington, D. C. 
Feb. 22, 1842 
S. F. Baird 
Wm. M. Baird 
4.25 
6. 50 
706 
April 5, 1842 
do 
4. 62 
7. 00 
50 b 
