90 NORTH AMKKICAX BIRDS. 



spring. Tlie eg^rs of this bird have a h'ligth of .7.") of an inch and a breadth 

 of .50. They are of a rounded oval in shape, and are thickly sprinkled 

 with fine rust-colored dots, intermingled with a few larger markings of lilac, 

 on a white ground. 



Lophophanes atricristatus, Cassin. 



BLACK-TUFTED TITMOUSE; TEXAS TITMOUSE. 



Parus atrkristatm, Cassix, Pr. A. N. Sc. Phil. V, 1850, liirj, pi. ii (Texas). Lophophnvrs 

 aln'crisfdfitu, Cajsmx, 111. liinls Texas, etc. 1, 1853, 13, pi. iii. — liAiKD, Birds N. Am. 

 1858, 385 ; Keview, 78. — CoiU'EU, IJirds Cal. I, 43. 



Sp. Thau. Crest very lonj; and pointt'd (1.2o inches). Above asli-eolored. A broad 

 band t)n tlie forehead dirty white, rest of head above, with erest, bla(?k, tin ' ith ash 

 on the sides. Color of the b:K;k shadini; insensibly into th<* didl ashy-white of i mder 

 parts. Sides of body pale brownish-ehestnut. Female with the crest dnller blaek. Iris 

 dark brown. Lenirth, abont 5.2.") inehes ; win^r, '^OO. 



IIab. Valley of Rio Grande, south, into Mexico. San Antonio. Texas, Vera Cruz, 



SCLATER. 



This species is not rare in Texas, where it has been noticed as far east as 

 San Antonio. 



Habits. So far as known, the Black-crested Titmouse is restricted in its 

 distribution to the valley of the Ifio (Irande, including portions of Mexico 

 and Western Texas. It was first met with in the latter State by John W. 

 Audubon, and described by Mr. Cassin m the Troceedings of the Philadelphia 

 Academy. 



In its general appearance and in all its habits it is mentioned as b.aving 

 so close a resemblance to the common Tufted Titmouse as to he hardly dis- 

 tinguishfible from that bird. Dr. Woodhouse met with this species near San 

 Antonio, Texas, in March, 1851. While his party was encamped on the Rio 

 Salado he observed these birds busily engaged in capturing insects among 

 the trees on the banks of the stream. Like all the members of this family, 

 it was incessantly in motion and very noisy. Later in the season, on the 

 8th of ^[ay, the same party, when encamped on the Quihi, again found this 

 species very abundant amo'ig the oaks. The young males, then fully grown, 

 closely resembled the adult females, both wanting the black crest that dis- 

 tinguishes the mature male. lie afterward noticed this species occurring at 

 intervals along his route as far as the head waters of the Rio San Francisco 

 in New Mexico. He observed it almost exclusively among the trees that 

 bordered streams of water. The females and the young males invariably had 

 crests of the same cinereous color as their general plumage, but in the latter 

 slightly tinged with l)rown. They occurred in small parties, w^ere very lively 

 and sociable in their habits, and in their general appearance and even in 

 their notes so very closely resembled the Eastern species as, at a short dia- 

 tance, to be liardly distinguishable from it. 



