44 . NESTS AND EGGS OF BIRDS. 



is well rounded and incurved. The cavity, which is about 

 3 inches in diameter and 11-4 deep, is lined very smoothly 

 with horsehair only. 



The color of the three or four eggs is precisely that of the 

 bluebird's, but these eggs are smaller, measuring only .75 

 by .50, and far more pyriform. 



Family PARID^ — Titmice. 

 27. TUFTED TITMOUSE. 



LOPHOPHANES BICOLOR Bo7iaparte. 



This lively bird belongs to the eastern United States^ 

 moving north not beyond the Connecticut valley in the east 

 and Texas and Nebraska in the west ; southward it reaches to 

 Florida. It is resident throughout its extent, and is more 

 familiar and prominent in winter than in summer, although 

 always more retiring than the chickadee. 



Perhaps in the same manner as the bluebird, the tufted tit 

 has come to build its nest in holes in trees, or in old woodpeckers' 

 galleries ; yet often chisels out a hole in hard wood for itself. 



At the bottom of this cavity, upon a shapeless, though soft 

 and warm bed, the eggs are laid ; in Virginia by the middle of 

 April, and in Ohio and New Jersey about May i. Generally 

 choosing some remote forest tree for their home, the birds con- 

 ceal its location with great care, but occasionally come 

 into the orchard to spend the summer. I have even heard 

 of one case where they attempted to nestle in a garden bird- 

 box, but were driven away by bluebirds. The six or eight 

 eggs are rounded-oval in shape, measure .75 by .56 of an inch, 

 and are white, densely sprinkled with fine rust-colored dots, 

 with a few larger markings of lilac. 



A single brood is brought out in a season. In July the 

 young birds are fledged and the whole family hunt together 

 during the fall and winter. Possibly this long and careful tui- 

 tion on the part of the parents contributes to the hardy character 

 and good sense that seem to me to distingfuish this bird. 



