268 
SYSTEMATIC SYNOPSIS. —PASSEBES— OSCINES. 
least, smallest.) Least Bush-tit. $ 9 : Dull lead-color, 
white, unmarked. The three species are western; they are notahle for their diminutive size, 
scarcely equalling a Polioptila in bulk. 
Analysis of Species. 
Crown brown, unlike back ; no black on side of head minimus 53 
Crown like back ; no black on side of head plumbeus 54 
Crown ash, unlike back ; a black stripe on side of head melanotis 65 
53. P. min'imus. (Lat. minimus 
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; 
bill 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. 
^ 9 : Clear plumbeous, 
with little or no olive 
or brownish shade ; top 
of head not difi'erent 
from the back ; sides 
of head pale brownish. 
Under parts as in P. 
7ninimus, 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 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 Rocky Mt. region, from Wyoming 
and Nevada southward ; common in Arizona. 
55. P. melano'tis. (Gr. fieXas, melas, gen. fieXavos, melanos, black; ovs, ous, gen. q)t6s, otos, ear.) 
Black-eared Bush-tit. ^, adult: Sides of head broadly black with greenish lustre, the 
nat. size. (Ad nat. del. H. W. 
