PARIDyE — THE TITMICE. QJ 



Dr. Heermann, in his report on tlic birds of Lieutenant I'arke's survey, 

 mentions having first observed this species near Fort Chirke, in Texas, where 

 it was very abundant He describes it as spriglitly and active in its move- 

 ments, searching with great assiduity for insects in the crevices of the bark 

 and among the branches of trees. Wliile thus engaged it keeps up a cliatter- 

 iiig note, varied with an occasioaal low and phiintive whistle. Its habits 

 appeared to him to resemble most those of the common Pariis atricapiUas. 

 Dr. Heermann states that it builds its nest in the hollow of trees, and that 

 it lays from twelve to sixteen eggs. He does not, however, say that he 

 ever met with its eggs, nor does he give any description of them. The nest, 

 he states, is composed of fine dry grasses, feathers, wool, mosses, etc. 



General Coucli's description of this sjiecies and its habits is very similar. 

 He observed it in the province of Nev Le.m, in Mexico, where he found it 

 verj' abundant along the San Juan into the Sierra ^ladV' He describes it 

 as a very lively bird, with a very perfect whistle of a single note. 



Mr. Henry A. Dresser souglit very diligently for its nest and eggs near 

 San Antonio and Houston, in Texas, wliere he found the bird very connnou, 

 and where he was sure many ])airs remained to breed, but its nest was very 

 hard to find, and the birds very wary. He succeeded in finding one nest, 

 in a hollow tree, near tlie head sjuings of tlie San Antonio Uiver, but it 

 contained young. The nest he does not describe, nor does he mention the 

 number of young it contained. 



Lophophanes inornatus, ( .vssin. 



OKAT-TVFTED TITMOTTSE ; CALIFORNU TITMOXTBE. 



Pariis iiwrnnlus, (ivMiiKi., I'r. A. X. Sc. riiil. .\u<,'. 1H4'), -iti.") (rii|«T raliforniaV — In. 

 J. A. N. So. new .scr. 1, 1847, li.'), pi. vii. Lophnphi iich iiionuiliis, Ca.s.six, 111. 1853, 

 1». -BAinn, lUnlsN. Am. IS.W, 1)80; Uuvi.w, 78. — .S(;lati:u, CaUil. 18G1, 14, no. 

 88. — Ku.ior, lllust. 1, 111. iii. — CoopKU, Hinls ("til, I. 42. 



Si\ CiiAii. Crest eloiifTiitotl. CoU.r above olivi.ccoiis-iisliy, lienonfli wliilisli. Sides nf 

 IkmI.V mul under tail-eoverls very faiii'ly tiii-;(Ml witli lirownisli, senreely approciiil.le. 

 Sid.'s of lir-ad suareely dillereiit from the erowi). Forehead obscurely whitish. Length, 

 /J iiiehes ; will};, 2."),"). 



Had. Southern United Stato.i, from Rocky Mountains to PaciHc ; Western Nevada 

 (UiUGWAv). W. Arizona (CouKi»). 



The bill and feet of this species are lead-color. Tlie thinl, fourth, and 

 fifth .juills are longest; the third and eightli about wiual ; the second is 

 sliorter tlian the .slujrtest primaries. The lateral tail-feathers are a little 

 shorter than the othere. 



A specimen from Fort Tliorn lias the crest longer than ill otlier siiecimens 

 before me, measuring l.-'if) inches from base of bill to its tip. Tliis may be a 

 characteristic of the male, the sexes being otherwise alike. 



