266 
SYSTEMATIC SYNOPSIS. — FASSEBES — OSCINES. 
Fig. 138. — Black-capped Chickadee, 
reduced. (Adnat. del. E. C.) 
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 moderately 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 6-8, 0.58 X 0.47, white, fully sprinkled 
with reddish-brown dots and spots. 
45. P. a. septentriona'lis. (Lat. septentrionalis, northern ; 
septentriones, the constellation of seven stars, the dipper.) 
Long-tailed Chickadee. Similar to P. atricapillus; 
averaging larger, and especially longer-tailed, the tail 
rather exceeding the -wing in length. Coloration clear and 
pure; wings and tail very strongly edged, especially oh 
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 breast ; sides of head and neck snowy-white. 
Bill and feet dark plumbeous. Average dimensions about 
the maxima of P. atricapillus: 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 Rocky Mts., there apparently to the exclusion 
of P. atricapillus proper. 
46. P. a. occidenta'lis. (Lat. occidentalis, western; occido, I fall; i. e., where the sun sets.) 
Western Chickadee. Similar to P. atricapillus; of the same average size; presenting 
the opposite extreme from P. septentrionalis in minimum edging of wing- and tail-feathers 
with hoary, heavy brownish wash of sides, and general dark sordid coloration. U. S-, Pacific 
coast region. 
47. P. carolinen'sis. (Lat. of Carolina.) Carolina Chickadee. Averaging smaller than P. 
atricapillus, 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. atricapillus. Length about 4.50 ; wing 2.50; tail 2.25. South Atlantic and Gulf States; 
N. to Washington and Southern Illinois. Nesting like P. atricapillus; eggs similar, rather 
smaller. 
879. P. meridiona'lis. (Lat. meridionalis, southern.) Mexican Chickadee. Differs decidedly 
from P. atricapillus in having the under parts merely a paler shade of the ashy of the upper, 
instead of white, without any brownish wash on sides; wing-coverts and tail lackiug any 
hoary edging, though the wing-quills have a slight grayish- 
white edging. Thus quite like P. montanus 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.) 
48. 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 
other species ; under parts similarly grayish -white, without a rusty tinge, the middle of the 
Fig. 139. — Mountain Chickadee, 
nat, size. (Ad nat. del. E. C.) 
