_Parus melanotis_, HARTLAUB, Rev. Zoöl. 1844, 216. _Pœcile melanotis_,
BP. Consp. 1850, 230. _Ægithaliscus melanotis_, CAB. Mus. Hein. I,
1850, 1851, 90. _Psaltria melanotis_, WESTERMANN, Bijd. Dierk.
1851, 16, plate. _Psaltriparus melanotis_, BONAP. C. R. XXXVIII,
1854.—SCLATER, P. Z. S. 1858, 299.—IB. 1864, 172 (City
Mex.).—SALVIN, Ibis, 1866, 190 (Guatemala).—BAIRD, Birds N. Am.
1858, 386, pl. liii, fig. 3; Review, 84. _Psaltriparus
personatus_, BONAP. C. R. XXXI, Sept. 1850, 478.
SP. CHAR. A black patch on each cheek, nearly meeting behind. Crown
and edges of the wing and tail ash-gray; rest of upper parts
yellowish-brown, lighter on the rump. Beneath whitish; anal region
tinged with yellowish-brown. Length about 4 inches; wing, 1.90; tail,
2.30.
HAB. Eastern Mexico; south to Guatemala; Oaxaca (high region),
SCLATER. East Humboldt Mountains, Nevada? RIDGWAY.
[Line drawing: _Psaltriparus minimus._
29711 ♂]
HABITS. In regard to the specific peculiarities and the distinct
individual habits of the members of this pretty little species, little
is at present known. Its mode of nesting has not been observed, and no
mention is made, by those who have met with it, of its peculiarities
of song, nor have we any information in regard to any of its habits.
Its geographical distribution, so far as ascertained, is from the
south side of the valley of the Rio Grande of Mexico to Guatemala, and
there is no reliable evidence of its crossing the United States
boundary line, unless Mr. Ridgway is correct in his assurance that he
saw it in the East Humboldt Mountains of Nevada, near Fort Ruby. It
was first described from Guatemalan specimens. Mr. O. Salvin (Ibis,
1866, p. 190) states that on more than one occasion he observed what
he believed to be this species, in the pine-woods of the mountains
near Solola, and above the lake of Atitlan.
Psaltriparus minimus, var. minimus, BONAP.