1887.] Sennett on Tivo Ne-M Titmice from Texas. 2Q 



Adult 5, No. 3161 ; collector's No. 67 ; J. M. Priour, Bee Co., Texas, 



April 9, 1SS6. Wing. 3.08; tail, 3. ; tarsus, .S5 ; bill, .43. 



This dark-crested Titmouse strikes one at a glance as being 

 different from Parus atricristatus, on account of its chestnut 

 frontlet, its large size, and its crest being smaller and brown, 

 instead of glossv black. A close comparison shows also less 

 olive on upper parts and a more plumbeous tail. It differs from 

 Parus bicolor in having the crest brown instead of dark plumbe- 

 ous, and the frontlet chestnut instead of black. In size it is fully 

 equal to southern specimens of Parus bicolor, and its bill is even 

 larger, and is black, with no tendency to horn color. I have 

 compared the four specimens in my collection with more than 

 fifty specimens of Parus atricri 'status ', and with specimens of 

 Parus bicolor from New York to Texas and from Kansas to 

 Florida. 



Parus bicolor texensis, subsp. nov. Texan Tufted 

 Titmouse. 



ef $ . Adult: — General color same as in Parus bicolor but paler. At 

 base of chest a frontlet of chestnut instead of black as in Parus bicolor. 

 This frontlet corresponds in color and intensity to the washings on the 

 sides, which vary with age and season. The size is the same as that of 

 Parus bicolor, but the bill appears to be longer and stronger, and the tar- 

 sus longer. 



Adult $, type. No. 3104; collector's No. 52; John M. Priour, Bee Co., 

 Texas, April 7. 1SS6. Wing, 2.95; tail, 2.85; tarsus, .So; bill, .43. 



Adult $ , type, No. 3105; collector's No. 53; John M. Priour, Bee Co., 

 Texas, April 7, 1SS6. Wing, 3. to; tail. 3.10; tarsus, .85; bill. .45. 



Adult specimen in Coll. of G. N. Lawrence, taken in October by Capt. 

 J. P. M'Cown, no sex being given. Wing, 3. 10: tail. 2.85: tarsus. .Sj ; 

 bill, .45. 



Habitat. Bee Co., Southern Texas; Brownville. 



In comparing specimens of Parus bicolor from New York. 

 New Jersey, Pennsylvania, North Carolina, South Carolina, 

 Kansas, Florida, and Texas, I am led to believe that the extreme 

 Southern Texas specimens certainly constitute a variety, and may 

 claim the rank of a distinct species. All these specimens from 

 Southern Texas have the distinct russet or chestnut on the front- 

 let, whether pale or dark, similar to the washings on the sides. 

 In the young of Parus bicolor the frontlet is brown, and in some 



