CHESTNUT-BACKED TITMOUSE. 
159 
Parus rufescens, Chestnut-backed Titmouse, Towns. Journ. Acad. Nat. Sc. 
Philadelphia, vol. vii. p. 190. 
Chestnut-backed Titmouse, Parus rufescens , Aud. Orn. Biog., vol. iv. p. 371. 
Adult Male. 
Bill very short, straight, strong, compressed, rather acute ; both man- 
dibles with the dorsal line slightly convex, the sides sloping and convex, 
the edges sharp, the tip of the upper scarcely longer. Nostrils basal, 
roundish, concealed by the recumbent feathers. Head large, ovate ; neck 
short ; body rather robust. Feet of ordinary length, robust ; tarsus com- 
pressed, with seven anterior scutella, and two lateral plates meeting 
behind so as to form a thin edge ; toes large, the three anterior united as 
far as the second joint, the hind one much stronger, and with its claw as 
long as the third. Claws large, arched, much compressed, acute. 
Plumage blended, tufty, unglossed. Wings of moderate length, the 
fourth and fifth quills equal and longest, the sixth scarcely shorter, the 
third and seventh equal, the second and eighth equal, the first very short, 
being only half the length of the second. Tail long, slender, arched, very 
slightly emarginate, or with its tip divaricate, of twelve rather narrow 
feathers. 
Bill brownish-black, with the edges and tip paler. Feet greyish-blue ; 
claws paler. Head and neck, and fore part of the sides, dark brown, 
with a broad longitudinal band of white on each side, from the bill under 
the eye, curving up on the shoulder, and almost meeting on the back ; 
which, including the rump, is bright chestnut, as are the sides under 
the wings ; the middle of the breast and abdomen greyish-white, the lower 
tail-coverts tinged with chestnut. Wings and tail brownish-grey, the 
smaller coverts tinged with chestnut, the secondary coverts margined and 
tipped with greyish- white, of which colour also are the outer edges of the 
quills, except the first ; tail-feathers faintly margined with bluish-grey. 
Length to end of tail 4$ inches ; wing from flexure 2f ; tail lf£ ; bill 
along the ridge ; tarsus \\ ; hind toe £* 2 -, its claw T 4 2 ; middle toe 
its claw fT. 
Adult Female. 
The Female is similar to the male. 
