THE TUFTED TITMOUSE. 575 



the lining being of fine grasses carefully laid. The 4-5 

 eggs, 1.00X.80, are white, sometimes tinged with green or 

 gray, more or less spotted with light brown and lilac, and 

 sometimes heavily marked all over. 



This species, so abundant in the south and southwest, is 

 found, more or less commonly, as far as the south side of 

 Lake Erie. In Western New York and to the eastward, 

 north of Virginia, it is but an occasional straggler. It has 

 been found, however, even as far north as Nova Scotia. 



THE TUFTED TITMOUSE. 



Among my first happy surprises in ornithology was the 

 Tufted Titmouse [Lophophanes bicolor), it also being a com- 

 mon winter resident, or rather resident throughout the year 

 in Northern Ohio. About 6.00 long, with a rather long and 

 finely formed tail, it has that most elegant of bird orna- 

 ments — a crest. It makes up therefore in graceful form and 

 sprightly carriage what it lacks in brilliancy of color — the 

 upper parts being leaden blue, and the under parts grayish- 

 white, with forehead black, and sides tinged with yellowish- 

 brown. The most striking characteristic of this species is 

 its vocal performances. Now it lisps, twitters and chatters, 

 as if in intelligent conversation with its companions; again 

 it squeaks like a mouse, or whines like a puppy, or frequently, 

 and still more strikingly, it whistles like one calling a dog. 

 More than once did I follow this latter performance for long 

 distances through the woods, wondering much what sort 

 of bird or beast its author might be. On the whole, there 

 is much compass and variety, and not a little of a certain 

 grade of music, in these numerous notes and rather loud 

 melodies, and they are all suggestive of a sly quaintness or 

 a vigorous energy. 

 • Scarcely less interesting than its voice is its manner of 



