PAEUS MONTANUS. 
ROCKY MOUNTAIN TITMOUSE. 
PARUS MO NT ANUS. 
Gambel. Proc. Acad. Nat. Scien. (1843), p. 259. 
Baikd, B. of N. Amexa, p. 394. 
The Rocky Mountain Titmouse was discovered by the late Dr. Gambel, near Santa Fe. It is nearly allied to the P, Atricapillus, 
hut may be distinguished from it by the lines of white running over the eye, and white front. Dr. Gambel gives the following 
account of this bird: “This new and distinct species I fii’st observed about a day’s journey from Santa Fe, in New Mexico, and 
from thence in all the ranges of the Rocky Mountains, neaily to California. Its manners and notes are very much like those of 
the common Chicadee, but the latter are more weak and varied. It keeps, also, much in low bushes, where, from morning to night, 
with untiring patience and activity, it may be seen hopping from bush to bush, searching them minutely for small insects. It also 
frequently descends to the ground, to pick up small seeds; when thus occupied, it occasionally stops, looks around, and utters a slender 
te-de-cle-de, then, altering to de -de -clait, flies off to some other bush. On the Rio Colorado, it kept much in the cotton- wood ti-ees 
which grew along its banks, and its notes, which became familiar, were almost the only ones heard in the wiuter, when we were 
there, to cheer our coui*se. This species is sometimes seen in company with the P. Minimus and Regulus Calendula, which at this 
time are roving in large and busy flocks along the small streams. 
“Although so very abundant in the western ranges of the Rocky Mountains, particularly near the Great Salt Lake, where, in 
some of the high wooded mountains, the trees were almost alive with them, yet I never saw them on the other side of the 
Californian ridge — much to my surprise — where the other species of Titmice so abound.” 
Dr. Coues found this Tit. resident throughout the Territory of Ai’izona, particularly in the pine tracts, but nowhere very numerous. 
Head, upper part of neck, throat, and upper portion of breast — black. Forehead, line above the eye, and also one below it, 
auriculars and sides of neck — white. Entire upper parts, ash ; under parts, lighter ; flanks, tinted with a rufous brown ; bill and 
feet, black. 
The Figures are life-size. 
