PARIDiE — THE TITMICE. 91 



Dr. Heermann, in his report on the birds of Lieutenant Parke's survey, 

 mentions having first observed this species near Fort Clarke, in Texas, where 

 it was very abundant. He describes it as sprightly and active in its move- 

 ments, searching with great assiduity for insects in the crevices of the bark 

 and among the branches of trees. While thus engaged it keeps up a chatter- 

 ing note, varied with an occasional low and plaintive whistle. Its habits 

 appeared to him to resemble most those of the common Partis atricajnllus. 

 Dr. Heermann states that it builds its nest in the hollow of trees, and that 

 it lays from twelve to sixteen eggs. He does not, however, say that he 

 ever met with its eggs, nor does he give any description of them. The nest, 

 he states, is composed of fine dry grasses, feathers, wool, mosses, etc. 



General Couch's description of this species and its habits is very similar. 

 He observed it in the province of New Leon, in Mexico, where he found it 

 very abundant along the San Juan into the Sierra Madre. He describes it 

 as a very lively bird, with a very perfect whistle of a single note. 



Mr. Henry A. Dresser sought very diligently for its nest and eggs near 

 San Antonio and Houston, in Texas, where he found the bird very common, 

 and where he was sure many pairs remained to breed, but its nest was very 

 hard to find, and the birds very wary. He succeeded in finding one nest, 

 in a hollow tree, near the head springs of the San Antonio River, but it 

 contained young. The nest he does not describe, nor does he mention the 

 number of young it contained. 



Lophophanes inornatus, Cassin. 



GRAY-TUFTED TITMOUSE ; CALIFORNIA TITMOUSE. 



Pants inornatus, CUiMBEL, Pr. A. N. Sc. Phil. Aug. 1845, 265 (Upper California). — Ib. 

 J. A. JST. Sc. new ser. I, 1847, 35, pi. vii. Lophophanes inornatus, Cassin, 111. 1853, 

 19. — BxMRD, Birds N. Am. 1858, 386 ; Review, 78. — Sclater, Catal. 1861, 14, no. 

 88. — Elliot, lllust. 1, pi. iii. —Cooper, Birds Cal. I. 42. 



Sp. Cn.\H. Crest elongated. Color above olivaceons-ashy, beneath whitish. Sides of 

 body and under tail-coverts very faintly tinged with brownish, scarcely appreciable. 

 Sides of head scarcely different from the crown. Forehead obscurely whitish. Length, 

 inches ; wing, 2.55. 



Hab. Southern United States, from Eocky Mountains to Pacific ; Western Nevada 

 (Ridgway). W. Arizona (Coues). 



The l)ill and feet of this species are lead-color. The third, fourth, and 

 fifth quills are longest ; the third and eighth about equal ; the second is 

 shorter than the shortest primaries. The lateral tail-feathers are a little 

 shorter than the others. 



A specimen from Fort Thorn has the crest longer than in other specimens 

 before me, measuring 1.35 inches from base of bill to its tip. This may be a 

 characteristic of the male, the sexes being otherwise alike. 



