TITMICE, CHICKADEES: MOUNTAIN CHICKADEE 509 
in a bluebird box eight miles east of Santa Fe, and on May 30, 1921, another with 
seven eggs, also in a box, was found in the same locality. On June 5, 1921, two nests 
were found, one with eight well incubated eggs in a pine stump in the Santa Fe 
Canyon, and another with seven fresh eggs near the Elks’ Cabin (Jensen).] It 
was common at Glorieta, 7,400 feet, July 
7-10, 1903 (Bailey); a common breeder at 
Willis, 7,800 feet (Henshaw); common in 
the San Pedro Mountains, July 8, 1889, 
when a flock of young was found among the 
spruces (Bailey); and found at Halls Peak, 
8,000 feet (Barber); in the Chuska Moun¬ 
tains (Gilman); [and at Lake Burford, where 
a nest with five nearly fledged young was 
seen, June 16, 1918 (Wctmore).] At the 
head of the Rio Mimbres late in May, 1906, 
it was found among the junipers at about 
6,500 feet as well as up in the pines, and it 
was common among the yellow pines of the 
Capitan Mountains June 14, 1899 (Bailey); 
it was common at Cloudcroft, 9,000 feet, 
July, 1909 (Green); and breeding among the 
pines on the Pinos Altos Mountains, July 
8, 1894 (Fisher). 
In the fall both old and young range 
up to timberline even on the highest moun¬ 
tains as on Pecos Baldv (Bailey); while in 
the mountains above Taos on October 10, 
1903, it was found common from 10,000 
feet to timbcrlinc and one specimen was 
taken at 12,500 feet, a thousand feet above 
timberline (Surber). Sometimes at this 
season, as well as in winter, it descends to 
the lower levels—to 5,000 feet at Shiprock, November 7, 1908 (Birdseye); to the 
same altitude at Albuquerque October 14, 1900 (?) (Birtwell); to 5,500 feet in the 
Guadalupe Mountains, January, 1915 (Willett). It also ranges east to Halls Peak 
(Barber); Fulton (Bailey); Corona and Jicarilla Mountains (Gaut); and Ruidoso 
in the White Mountains (Hollister). 
As the name Penthestes gambeli is a substitute for Parus montanas, taken during 
the early explorations “one day’s journey west of Santa Fe,” there is no type. 
The type specimen of the subspecies called thayeri by Birtwell 1 was taken at 
Albuquerque, December 27, 1900, but on investigation the darkness of the under¬ 
parts, upon which it was described, proved to be from charred wood, so the form 
was not recognized.—W. W. Cooke. 
Nest. —In an old woodpecker hole, natural cavity, or bird box, usually not 
over 15 feet from the ground; generally lined with rabbit fur. Eggs: 5 to 9, plain 
white or spotted with reddish brown, chiefly around the larger end. 
General Habits.— When the Mountain Chickadee clings upside 
down to a pine twig, as it is so fond of doing, the distinguishing white 
line over the eye shows to good advantage. But this line is not always 
1 Birtwell, F. J., Description of a supposed New Subspecies of Parus from New Mexico, Auk, 
XVIII, 165-167, 1901. 
