320 North American Birds Eggs. 



731. Tufted Titmouse. Bn'olophus birolor. 

 Range. — P^astern I'nited States, resident and breeding from 



the Gulf north to New York and Illinois. 



This species has a grayish crest and upper parts, and is 

 white beneath with brownish sides and black forehead. These 

 comaion and noisy birds nest in natural cavities in trees or 

 in holes deserted bj- Woodpeckers; they may be fountl at any 

 elevation, from two to thirty feet from the ground. They line 

 the bottom of the cavity with leaves, bark, fibres and hair, [White.] 



and during April or May lay five to eight white eggs, plentifully specked with 

 reddish brown. Size .74 x.54. 

 731a. Texan Tufted Titmouse. B. b. tcxcnsis. 



Range. — Southeastern Texas. 



Similar to the last but with the forehead brown instead of black. The habits 

 and eggs of these birds do not differ from those of the eastern form. 



732. Black-crested Titmouse. B<eolophus atricristatiis. 



Range. — Lower Rio Grande Valley in Texas and southward. 

 This Titmouse has a black crest and the forehead is white; 

 otherwise similar to the preceding. Like the last, these birds 

 nest in deserted Woodpeckers' holes and natural cavities in trees, 

 either in open woods or in the vicinity of habitations. Their 

 I White.] eggs are sparsely spotted with reddish brown, and not usually 



distinguishable from those of the Tufted Titmouse. Size .70 x .54. Data.— 

 Brownsville, Texas, May 11, 1892. Xest of moss, hair, down and wool in 

 cavity in tree in open woods near town; 4 feet from the ground. Collector, 

 Frank B. Armstrong. 



733. Plain Titmouse. Bxolophus inoniatus. 



Range.— California and Oregon west of the Sierra Xevadas. 



This common, slightly crested Titmouse is grayish brown 

 above and grayish white below. They nest anywhere in cavities 

 that meet with their approval, about old buildings, in fence 

 posts, etc., as well as holes in trees. Their eggs range from five 

 to eight in number and are white, usually spotted with pale 

 brownish. Size .72 x .52. Data. — Tulare Co., California, April i White.] 



3, 1895. Nest in an oak tree, 32 feet from the ground, in a natural cavity of a 

 horizontal limb; composed of grasses, feathers and fur. Collector, Virgil W. 

 Owen. 

 733a. Gray Titmouse. B. i. griseus. 



Range. — Southeastern United States, from Colorado and Nevada southward. 



The nesting habits of this gray Titmouse are just the same as those of the 

 other. 

 733b. Ashy Titmouse. B. i. cineraceus. 



Range.— Southern Low^er California. 



The habits of this varity are the same as those of the Plain Titmouse and 

 doubtless the eggs are also. 



734. Bridled Titmouse. Bceolophus irollweberi. 



Range.— Mexico north to southern Arizona, New Mexico and western Texas. 



/f~~~^~ This handsome species is quite abundant in the mountains of 



/ '' v southern Arizona and nests in woods or about ranches, lining the 



,, cavities of trees with moss, down, leaves, etc. The three to seven 



jj ^ eggs that they lay are pure white, unmarked. Size .65 x .52. 



Data.— Huachuca Mountains, Arizona, April 5, 1901. Nest in the 



[White.] natural cavity of a live oak, 12 feet from the ground; cavity lined 



with bark and feathers. Collector, O. W. Howard. 



