242 THE TUFTED TITMOUSE. 



Nesting. — Not known to breed in Ohio. "Nest of feathers, grasses, etc., gen- 

 erally near the ground, in a tree or stump. Eggs, 5 or 6, white or creamy white, 

 heavily spotted or blotched with cinnamon- or olive-brown, .56 x .46 (14.2 x 

 1 1.7 1" ( Chapman). 



General Range. — South Atlantic and Gulf States, north to southern Maryland 

 and 1 casually?) Ohio, Missouri, etc. 



Range in Ohio. — Accidental in northern Ohio. Reported by Kirtland. 



THE sole claim which the Brown-headed Nuthatch has to notice in this 

 work is that established many years ago by Dr. Kirtland, who said: "I once 

 killed a specimen in the northern part of Ohio. Only one other instance 1 is 

 on record of its wandering so far north, so that the occurrence must be deemed 

 verv unusual. The species is generally confined to the Gulf and South At- 

 lantic coast states, where its favorite range is in the pine barrens of Georgia 

 and the Carolinas. It is more sociable than the Ohio Nuthatches, moving 

 about, except during the breeding season, in considerable companies, which 

 keep up a sibilant chatter during meal time. The nesting is similar to that of 

 the better known species, save that it is apt to be at lesser heights, and the 

 warm lining is less in evidence. 



No. 106. 



TUFTED TITMOUSE. 



A. O. U. Xo. 731. Basolophus bicolor (Linn.). 



Description. — Adult: Above ashy gray, deepest on top of head; forehead 

 sooty black ; a conspicuous crest ; sides of head and below ashy white, strongly- 

 washed with rusty on sides and flanks; bill plumbeous-black; feet plumbeous. In 

 winter: The back and, usually, edgings of wing and tail more or less tinged with 

 olive; the lower parts tinged with brownish, especially on breast. Immature: 

 Less distinctly black on forehead: not so rust) on sides; bill light, except along 

 culmen. Length, 5.75-6.50 (146.1-165.1) ; wing 3.13 17^-?) '■ tail 2.67 1 07. S ) ; 

 bill .43 (10.9). 



Recognition Marks. — Sparrow size; black forehead and ashy blue crest; 

 plain coloration in ash, whitish, and rusty. 



Nest, in a hole in stump, beech-stub, or tree, of leaves, bark, corn-pith and 

 trash, lined with hair or feathers. Eggs, 5-8, white or creamy-white, evenly spotted 

 and speckled with reddish brown. Average size. .71 x .55 ( 18. x 14. 1. 



General Range. — Eastern United States to the Plains, north to northern 

 New Jersey and southern Iowa: casual in southern New England. Resident 

 throughout its breeding range. 



Range in Ohio. — of general distribution throughout the state. 



