408 BULLETIN 191, UNITED STATES NATIONAL MUSEUM 



posteriorly against the gray, and anteriorly invading the forehead almost 

 (sometimes quite) to base of culmen ; throat and chest pale gray ; color of 

 sides and flanks much paler (cinnamon-buff instead of rufous-cinna- 

 mon) ; back sometimes suffused with sooty or blackish." 



What few molting birds I have seen indicate that the postnuptial 

 molts of adults, and probably the postjuvenal molt, take place mainly 

 in August; September birds seem to be in fresh plumage. 



Food. — Little seems to be known about the food of this titmouse, 

 and practically nothing has been published on it. Austin Paul Smith 

 (1910) writes: "Having but one true Titmouse, the Black-crested 

 (Baeolophiis atricristatus), we especially appreciate him, though he is 

 omnipresent, even into the heart of the city [Brownsville]. They in- 

 spect any object of size, that may arouse suspicion of harboring cater- 

 pillars or other insects. They are very fond of the caterpillar of the 

 butterfly (Libythea bachmanni) which so persistently attacks our hack- 

 berry trees, as to have surely defoliated them this summer, but for the 

 combined efforts of the Titmouse and Sennett Oriole." 



Voice. — Mr. Smith (1910) says further: "The Black-crested Tit is 

 rarely silent, the usual notes being a continuation of sounds like 'pete- 

 chee-chee-chee' ; more rarely 'peter-peter.' By April the young have 

 appeared on the scene." 



DISTRIBUTION 



Range. — South-central Texas and northeastern Mexico; not migra- 

 tory. The range of the black-crested titmouse extends north to central 

 Texas (Chisos Mountains, San Angelo, and Lomita). East to central 

 Texas (Lomita, Austin, Corpus Christi, and Brownsville) ; and Veracruz 

 ("highlands"). South to Veracruz ("highlands") ; and San Luis Potosi 

 (Tamazunchale and Valles). West to San Luis Potosi (Valles) : 

 western Tamaulipas (Victoria and Montemorelos) ; western Nuevo 

 Leon (Monterey and Lampazos) ; and southwestern Texas (Chisos 

 Mountains). 



The range outlined is for the entire species, which has been separated 

 into two subspecies, the typical black-crested titmouse (Parus atricris- 

 tatus atricristatus), occupying the southern portion of the range, north 

 to the Rio Grande Valley, while Sennett's titmouse (P. a. sennetti), is 

 found in Texas. 



Egg dates. — Texas: 68 records, March 7 to May 26; 34 records, 

 April 3 to May 2. indicating the height of the season. 



