P. minimus. Back ashy; crown light brown. _Hab._ Pacific Province of United States … var. _minimus._ Back and crown uniform ashy. _Hab._ Middle Province and southern Rocky Mountains of United States … var. _plumbeus._ Psaltriparus melanotis, BONAP. BLACK-EARED BUSH-TITMOUSE. _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. LEAST BUSH-TITMOUSE. _Parus minimus_, TOWNSEND, J. A. N. Sc. VII, ii, 1837, 190.—AUD. Orn. Biog. IV, 1838, 382, pl. ccclxxxii, figs. 5, 6.—IB. Birds Am. II, 1841, 160, pl. cxxx. _Pœcile minima_, BON. Consp. 1850, 230. _Psaltria minima_, CASSIN, Illust. 1853, 20. _Psaltriparus minimus_, BON. C. R. XXXVIII, 1854, 62.—BAIRD, Birds N. Am. 1858, 397; Review, 84.—COOPER & SUCKLEY, P. R. R. Rep. XII, ii, 1859, 195.—COOPER, Birds Cal. 1, 48. SP. CHAR. Tail long, feathers graduated. Above rather dark olivaceous-cinereous; top and sides of head smoky-brown. Beneath pale whitish-brown, darker on the sides. Length about 4 inches; wing, 1.90; tail, 2.25. HAB. Pacific coast of United States.