324 Birds ok Xuktii Carolina 



57. FAMILY PARID/E. TITMICE 



Small birds, nearly allied to the luit hatches, but differing in having short, stout 

 bills and comparatively long tails. The family is a eosmopoHtan one. Two easily 

 distinguished genera occur with us. 



KEY TO GENERA 



1. Head crested; throat and crown not black. Bceolophus. 



1. Head not crested; throat and crown black. Penthestes. 



Genus Bseolophus (Cab.) 

 329. Baeolophus bicolor {Li/m.). Tuktkd Tit.mouse. 



Description. — Grayish ash, whiti.sh below; head crested, forehead black, flanks tinged with 

 rusty. L., 6.00; W., 3.00; T., 2.70. 

 Range. — Eastern United States. 

 Range in North Carolina. — Whole State at all .seasons. 



Fig. 2G5. TicTEi> Tit.moisk. 



Tiie Tufted Titmouse, so well known by its loud, clear whistle and crested head, 

 is an abundant bird everywhere in North Carolina, breeding from lat(> April to 

 early June. The nests are placed in tlic natural liollows of trees. The bird fre- 

 quently fills these cavities witli dead leaves and other mat(>rial for a deijth of a 

 foot or more, before building tlie nest jiroiier, which is coniposeil of green moss 

 and leaves, lined with cotton, fur, fine grass, or roots. The eggs are pure white or 

 light (Team in ground-color, i)rofusely speckled and spotted with different shades 

 of redtlish brown. Size .75 x ..">;5. In muni>er the eggs vary from five to seven, 

 and are covered by tlic liini when ii leaves tlie nest. Cairns remarks tiuit the 

 female does all the building, and that tlic male provides her food while so occupied. 

 He also states that when the nest is disturbed tlie birds will remove the eggs. The 

 female is very hard to (lush fniiii the nest, aiiil will often allow herself to l)e caught 



