BIRDS OF KANSAS. 629 



engaged in hunting not only on their own account, but also for 

 their mates engaged in the cares of incubation. In these duties, 

 however, both sexes take part, and the females were occasion- 

 ally found abroad while their place on the nest was filled by 

 the males. The single nest examined was found in a small pine 

 stub, a few feet from the ground. The hole was excavated in 

 the rotten wood to the depth of five inches, no especial care 

 having been taken to render this smooth and symmetrical, and 

 was thoroughly lined at bottom with fine shreds of pine bark. 

 The eggs, five in number, were far advanced toward hatching; 

 color grayish white, thinly spotted with reddish dots, confluent 

 at the larger end." 



Eggs four to eight (usually five or six), . 60x. 50; in form, 

 oval to rounded oval. 



SUBFAMILY PARING. TITMICE. 



"Body compressed. Bill shorter than head. Wings rounded, equal to or 

 shorter than the rounded tail. Second quill as short as the tenth. Tarsus 

 longer than the middle toe and claw, which are about equal to the hinder; soles 

 of toes widened into a palm. Plumage rather soft and lax." 



GENUS PARUS LINN^US. 



Bill with either the culmen or gonys ( sometimes both ) decidedly convex; 

 nostrils wholly concealed; plumage very lax. Tail not conspicuously longer 

 than wing, rounded. (Ridgway.) 



SUBGENUS LOPHOPHANES KAUP. 



"Crown with a conspicuous crest. Bill conical; both upper and lower out- 

 lines convex. Wings graduated; first quill very short. Tail moderately long 

 and rounded. Nests in hollow trees; eggs white, with fine red dottiugs." 



Parus bicolor Lixx. 



TUFTED TITMOUSE. 

 PLATE XXXV. 



Resident; abundant in the eastern part of the State; rare in 



the western portion. Begin laying about the middle of April. 







B. 285. R. 36. C. 40. G. 16, 320. U. 731. 



HABITAT. Eastern United States; north to New Jersey and 

 southern Nebraska (straggling to southern New England, etc.); 

 south to the Gulf coast, including Florida (replaced in western 

 Texas by P. atricristatus) ; resident throughout its range. 



