THE CHICKADEE. 47 



knolls. Thcjdo not avoid human habitations, as two nests were found 

 on the ranche in ebony trees near buildings much frequented. 



The parents guard their treasures well and make a great ado when the 

 nest is invaded; but not until they see that their nest is actually being 

 examined do thej' give any cry of alarm or intimation of uneasiness 

 save by their presence. One nest near the house was laid open with 

 broad cuts of the axe, and, it being shallower than usual, as the chips 

 split off the young were fully exposed as on a shelf. Still the old ones 

 reared them safely until I saw them take wing. Common as is this 

 bird on the entire lower Rio Grande, wherever any respectable growth 

 of timber exists, yet the eggs must always remain rare on account of 

 their being so difficult to find. 



The usual number of eggs which this titmouse lays in a clutch, I 

 must put at six, as all the nests found contained that number of young, 

 except one, which had five. Until proof to the contrary is forthcom- 

 ing, we must naturally suppose that this species does not differ materi- 

 ally in its habits of nidification from its near relative Lophophancs bi- 

 color^ which is said to bring forth only one brood each year. 



The e.'gg preserved by Mr. Sennett is round-oval ; but one 

 end being larger gives it the appearance of being more rounded 

 than the other. The ground-color is clear dead white. Distrib- 

 uted unevenly over the whole surface, and not very sparingly, 

 are flecks and blotches of fawn of various shades, the sides hav- 

 ing rather more than either end. Its length is .60, and its breadth 

 .48 of an inch. 



30. THE BRIDLED TIT. 

 LOPHOPHANES WOLLWEBERI Bo>taparte. 



Striped-headed Titmouse. 



This is a bird of 7V<?Ty Mexico and ivestcrn Texas., whose 

 nidification as yet is unknown ; but probably is just like that of 

 the other titmice. 



31. THE CHICKADEE. 

 PARUS ATRICAPILLUS Lmn. 



Black-capped Titmouse. 



Found in some of its varieties everywhere east of the Rocky 

 tnotaztai7is. and northerly to Hudson's bay and Alaska. 



The typical chickadee occurs only north of the Ohio and Po- 



