32 LOPJIOPHANES BICOLOR. 



then collect in small flocks, and by October commence a partial migration. Those which live 

 in Massachusetts pass further south, and the summer residents of Northern New England take 

 their places. I have never met with the small Southern variety of this species but once. That 

 was in December, 1868, when a small flock passed over us while we were encamped near 

 Jacksonville, and alighted in the hummock near. Their notes were the same as those of the 

 more Northern residents, excepting that their voices were weaker, which we should naturally 

 expect from their smaller size. 



GENUS II. LOPHOPHANES. THE CRESTED TITMICE. 



GEN. CH. Sternum, not broad, being narrower than one-half of the length of the top of the keel. The marginal 

 indentations are also proportionally shallower than in Farm. Head, crested. 



Members of this genus may be readily distinguished by the prominent crest and narrow sternum. 



LOPHOPHANES BICOLOR. 



The Crested Titmouse. 

 Lophophanes bicolor BON., List Birds Europe, 1842. 



DESCRIPTION. 



SP. Cn. Form, robust. Bill, short. Tail, slightly rounded. Sternum, stoutly built. Crest, of varying lengths. 



COLOR. Adult. Above, ashy; darkest on the head and with an olivaceous wash over the back, which is more 

 perceptible on the rump. Forehead, black with a narrow line next the crown tipped witli rufous. The feathers of 

 the crest show darker centres. Upper portions of wings and tail, dark brown with the feathers edged with the same 

 as the back. Beneath, dirty white with the flanks chestnut. Wings and tail below, glaucous. Under tail coverts, 

 pale bun". Axillaries and lower wing coverts, white tinged with pale buff. 



Young, similar but with a rufous wash over the rump and back. There is also less chestnut on the sides, and 

 the reddish edging of the forehead is better defined. Sexes alike. Irides, brown ; bill, black; feet, lead color in all 

 stages of plumage. 



OBSERVATIONS. 



I have never seen any of the western representatives of this genus, but judge that some of them might easily be 

 confounded with this species. The birds from which I have made the above description, were all taken in Florida. 

 They have a distribution throughout the Middle and Southern states, but I have never met with them on the coast of 

 Florida, among the Keys, or in the southern sections of the state ; they being rare about Salt Lake and scarcely to be 

 found below that point. 



DIMENSIONS. 



Average measurements of eleven specimens from Florida. Length, G-16; stretch, 9-77; wing, 2-G6; tail, 2-72; 

 bill, -53; tarsus, -77. Longest specimen, 6-50; greatest extent of wings, 10-00; longest wing, 3-25; tail 3-00; bill, 

 70; tarsus, -95. Shortest specimen, 5-75; smallest extent of wings, 9-25; shortest wing, 3-00; tail, 2-50; bill, 

 45; tarsus, -65. 



DESCRIPTION OF EGGS. 



Eggs usually six in number, oval in form, white in color, spotted and blotched with light reddish-brown and 

 lilac. The spots are accumulated more thickly on the larger end. I obtained the egg which I have described form 

 Mr. B. P. Mann. A specimen kindly loaned me by Mr. E. C. Dickenson does not differ essentially, except in being 

 slightly smaller, and in having a less number of spots. Dimensions, from -70 x -55 to -75 x -GO inches. 



I never have seen the nest, but judge that it resembles that of the preceding species. 



HABITS. 



The pleasantest part of the city of Jacksonville, Florida, is built in a fine live-oak grove 

 and as shade is quite essential in this climate, all of the trees which did not grow in the streets 

 in such a manner as to impede the progress of vehicles were allowed to stand. The sidewalks, 

 therefore, are overhung with thick evergreen foliage, which forms a resort for numerous birds, 

 especially when they are migrating ; and I have counted seven or eight species in a single tree. 

 One day I was passing beneath these branches, in company with my friend, Mr. Ober, when we 

 heard a note which sounded something like that of the common Chickadee, only it was much 



