PARID^ — THE TITMICE. 93 



Lophophanes woUweberi, Bonai'. 



WOLLWEBER'S TITMOUSE; STRIPED-HEADED TITMOUSE. 



Lojyhophancs wollwebcri, Bon. 0. R. XXXI, Sept. 1850, 478. — Westermann, BijJr. Dier- 

 kuiide, III, 1851, 15, plate. — Baird, Birds N. Am. 1858, 386, pi. liii, fig. 1 ; Review, 

 79. — SCLATER, P. Z. S. 1858, 299 (Oaxaca, high lands). — Ib. Catal. 1861, 14, no. 89. 

 — Cooper, Bird.s Cal. I, 43. Parus annexus, Cassin, Pr. A. N. Sc. V, Oct. 1850, 

 103, pi. i. Lnj>hophanes gahatus, Cabanis, Mus. Hein. 1850, 1851, 90. 



Sp. Char. Central portion of crest ash, encircled by black, commencing as a frontal 

 band, and passing over the eye. Chin, throat, and a line from behind the eye and curving 

 round the auriculars to the throat (bordered behind by white), as also some occipital 

 feathers, black. A white line from above the eye margining the crest, with the cheeks 

 below the eye and under parts generally white. A black half-collar on the nape. Upper 

 parts of body ashy. Length, about 4.50 ; wing, 2.50. 



Hab. Southern Rocky Mountains of United States, and along table-lands through 

 Mexico, to Oaxaca (high regions, Sclater). Orizaba (Alpine regions, Sum.). 



Habits. Wollweber's Titmouse, so far as its distribution is known, is 

 a bird of Western Texas, tlie high table-lands of Mexico, and of the whole 

 of New Mexico. It was described by Bonaparte and by Cassin nearly simul- 

 taneously, in 1850. It bears a very close resemblance to the Lophophanes 

 cristatus of Europe. 



Although comparatively nothing is known in reference to the specific hab- 

 its of this species, they may be very readily inferred from those of the other' 

 members of this genus, whose characteristics are all so well marked and so 

 uniform. Dr. Kennerly is the only one of our naturalists who has men- 

 tioned meeting the species in its living form. In his Eeport upon the Birds 

 of Lieutenant Whipple's Survey he states that he found it in the thick bushes 

 along the Pueblo Creek. Wherever noticed it was constantly in motion, 

 hopping from twig to twig in search of its food. He also found it among 

 the pines of the Aztec ^Mountains. No mention is made of its nest or eggs, 

 and its nidification remains to be ascertained. 



Genus PARUS, Linn^us. 

 Parus, LiNx^us, Sy.st. Nat. 1735. ' (Type, P. major.) 



Gen. Char. Head not crested. Body and head full. Tail moderately long, and slightly 

 rounded. Bill conical, not very stout ; the upper and under outlines very gently and 

 slightly convex. Tarsus but little longer than middle toe. Head and neck generally black 

 or brown, with sides white. Nest in holes. Eggs white, sprinkled with red- 

 Ill the group, as defined above, are embraced several genera of modern 

 systematists. The true l)lack-capped American Titmice belong to the section 

 rcecile of Kaup, and exhibit but three well-marked forms ; one, P. montanus, 

 with a white stripe over the eye ; one, atricapillus, without it, with black 



