380 Bird -Lore 



with gray, while the forehead in both sexes is more often tinged with brown or 

 rusty. 



This is the more northern of the two forms; true atricristatus ranging from 

 the Rio Grande Valley southward, while sennetti inhabits "Central Texas, 

 from Tom Green and Concho Counties, east to the Brazos River, and from 

 Young County south to Nueces and Bee County" (A. 0. U.)- 



Plain Titmouse {BcBolophus inornatus, Fig. 5). This well-named species is 

 'plain' throughout its life. Its small crest is its one adornment. This is worn 

 by both sexes, but is much shorter, indeed almost lacking in juvenal plumage. 

 Aside from this difference, and the greater softness of its plumage, the young 

 bird resembles its parent, and after the post juvenal molt they are indis- 

 tinguishable. 



If the Plain Titmouse does not vary appreciably with age, sex, or season, it 

 does geographically. A number of races have been described, but only three of 

 them are recognized in the last edition of the A. O. U. 'Check-List,' as follows: 

 (i) BcBolophus inornatus inornatus, the Plain Titmouse, inhabits California 

 west of the Sierras. (2) BcBolophus inornatus griseus, Gray Titmouse, a grayer 

 form of the arid interior east of the Sierras and west of the Rockies. (3) Bceo- 

 lophus inornatus cineraceus, Ashy Titmouse, a form of the Cape Region of 

 Lower California, which resembles the Gray Titmouse, but is paler below. 



Bridled Titmouse {Baolophus wollweberi, Fig. 6). — In juvenal plumage the 

 markings about the head from which this species is named are less distinct; the 

 young birds are therefore comparatively 'unbridled,' the throat is grayish and 

 the crest has developed. These differences disappear at the post juvenal molt 

 when the young birds usually acquires a plumage like that of the adult, from 

 which thereafter they cannot be distinguished. The female resembles the male. 



