BUSH-TIT. 743. Psaltriparus minimus. 4½ inches.
Range.—Pacific coast of California, Oregon and Washington. In habits all of these birds are similar to the Chickadees. They are full of life, and in searching for insects are as much at home when upside down on the outer end of a bunch of pine needles as are the Chickadees. For nest building they have no superiors, making long gourd-like structures of fibers, moss, and grass, woven closely together, lined with feathers and wool, suspended from twigs at a low elevation or woven into some thick brush; they have a small opening near the top for the doorway. They lay from four to nine pure white eggs (.54 × .40).
LEAD-COLORED BUSH-TIT. 744. Psaltriparus plumbeus. 4½ inches.
Range.—Oregon, Colorado, to southern California and Texas. The habits are identical with above. Nests are made the same, and from eight to twelve inches long.
LLOYD BUSH-TIT. 745. Psaltriparus melanotis lloydi. 4½ inches.
Range.—Arizona, Texas and New Mexico. Habits the same as above.
VERDIN. 746. Auriparus flaviceps. 4½ inches.
Range.—Colorado and southern California to Mexico. This bird is simply nothing more than a Bush-tit with his Sunday clothes on, or not a full suit, but a bright yellow head and neck dress. They are abundant and active little fellows in the thick chaparral brush, where they build a nest more bulky than the “tit” but not as artistic or compact. They are placed in thorn or other bushes within a few feet of the ground, made of twigs and weeds, and lined with fur and feathers. Their eggs, four to six, are white. For amusement, they construct one or two additional nests, in which they remain at night.
WREN-TIT. 742. Chamæa fasciata. 5 inches.
Range.—From southern California north to Oregon along the coast. These are much like the Chickadee in habits, only much more secluded, frequenting the deep ravines along the mountain sides, where they build their nests of twigs, fibers of vines, grasses and feathers, in bushes near the ground. Four or five greenish blue, unmarked eggs are their complement (.70 × .50).
KENNICOTT WARBLER. 747. Acanthopneuste borealis. 5 inches.
Range.—In Alaska casually. Breeds in the extreme northern part of Asia. Their nest and eggs have not been found on this continent as far as we know at present. They build on the ground in a tussock of grass, laying from three to five white eggs finely spotted with chestnut (.70 × .50).