92 NORTH AMERICAN BIRDS. 



Habits. The Gray Titmouse belongs essentially to the Pacific coast, 

 coming eastward only as far as the banks of the Rio Grande in Texas. It 

 was first discovered and described by Dr. Gambel, in his Birds of California. 

 It has since been met with not only throughout California, Init also in all 

 the southern portions of the Eocky Mountains, in New Mexico, and from 

 IVIimbres to the Rio Grande. 



Dr. Woodhouse met with this species in the San Francisco Mountains, 

 near the Little Colorado River, New Mexico. He found it very abundant, 

 feeding among the tall pines in company with the Sitta fygmcea, S. aculcata, 

 and Parus montanus. 



Dr. Gambel first noticed this species near Monterey on the 20th of No- 

 vember. It was flitting actively about among the evergreen oaks of that 

 vicinity in company with large flocks of several kindred species. They 

 were all in restless acti\'ity, searching every branch for insects. As well 

 as he could distinguish its notes among those of the busy throng in the 

 midst of which lie observed it, they appeared to resemble very closely those 

 of the common F. atricajrillns. Upon his following it up, it would utter a 

 loud scolding outcry, erect its high and pointed crest, and appear as angry 

 as possible at the intrusion. He found it very common, frequenting tall 

 bushes in small flocks, searching branches of low trees, uttering weak and 

 slender cries, resembling the syllables tsee day-ddy. 



Dr. Heermann found it one of the most common of the birds of California, 

 where it is resident throughout tlie year. He describes their notes as 

 possessing an almost endless variety, so much so that he was repeatedly 

 prompted to follow it as a new species. He met with a nest of this bird in 

 a deserted woodpecker's hole, which contained young. 



Dr. Cooper has met with this species in February near San Diego, but 

 not on the Colorado. They seem to prefer the evergreen-oak groves toward 

 the middle of the State, but are not found in the higher Sierra Nevada. 

 They are residents throughout the year in the evergreen oaks near San 

 Francisco. He adds that they are seen in small parties, scattered about 

 the trees, and calling to each other with a variety of sweet and loud notes, 

 some of which are said to equal those of our best singers. It also has 

 certain powers of imitation like the Eastern crested species and the same 

 cry of peto-peto. 



It feeds on acorns as M-ell as insects, and often goes to the ground in search 

 of them. It cracks the acorns with its bill, and hammers at bark and de- 

 cayed wood with the industry of a woodpecker. 



Mr. Ridgway met with this species among tlie pines of the eastern slope 

 of the Sierra Nevada, but nowhere in abundance. Among the cedars it was 

 almost the only bird seen. He describes its manners as greatly resembling 

 those of the other species. Its notes, though differing from those of the 

 Eastern L. Ucolor, being weaker and less distinct, retain its vehement and 

 characteristic manner of utterance. 



