"^ PAEIDiE PARUS ATRICAPILLUS. 



LOPHOPHANES INOENATUS, (Gamb.) Cass. 



Plain-crested Titmouse. 



Pants inorrtatm, Game., Pr. Phila. Acad, ii, 1845, 265; ibid, iii, 1847, 154; Journ. Phila. 



Acad, i, 1847, 35, pi. 8. 

 Zophophanes inornaius, Cass., 111. i, 1853, 19.— Bd., B. N. A. 1858, 386 ; Eev. 1864, 78.— 



SCL., Cat. 1862, 14.— Hbehm., P. E. E. Eep. x, 1859, pt. vi, 42.— Codes, Pr. Phila. 



Acad. 1866, 79.— Coop., B. Cal. i, 1870, 42.— Aiken, Pr. Boat. Soo. 1872, 195 



(Eastern Colorado). — Codes, Key, 1872, 80, fig. 22. 

 Hob. — Black Hills to the Pacific, and southward in the United States. 



This species, which was not observed by either of the expeditions, is 

 brought into the present connection by the reseai'ches of Mr. C E. A.iken, 

 who found it a "common winter resident" in Eastern Colorado. I 

 found it to be an abundant species in Upper Arizona, where it is 

 apparently resident, though more frequently observed in winter. Its 

 habits are precisely the same as those of its Eastern congener. 



' X ^ PAEUS ATRICAPILLUS, Linn. ,. ■ ■*<^ 



Black-capped Chickadee. 



Farua atricapiUus, Linn., Syst. Nat. i, 1766, 341.— Gm., Syst. Nat. i, 1788, 1008.— Lath., 

 Ind. Orn. ii, 1790, 566.— Foest., Philos. Trans. Ixii, 1772, 407.— WiLS., Am. Orn. 

 i, 1808, 134, pi. 8, f. 4.— Bp., Journ. Phila. Acad. 1825, 254 ; Syn. 1828, 100 ; List, 

 1838, 20.— Sw. & Rich., F. B. A. ii, 1831, 226.— Add., Orn. Biog. iv, 1838, pi. 

 353, f. 3 ; Syn. 1839, 79 ; B. Am. ii, 1841, 146, pi. 126.— Cass., 111. 1853, 17.— Bd., 

 B. N. A. 1858, 390.— (?) Max™., J. f. O. 1858, 119.— Woodh., Sitgr. Eep. 1853, 

 68 (Indian Territory).- Allen, Mem. Best. Soc. 1868, 493 (Iowa).— Trippe, Pr. 

 Ess. Inst, vi, 1871,' 115 (Minnesota) ; Pr. Bost. Soo. xv, 1872, 236 (Iowa).— 

 JIcIlwr., Pr. Ess. Inst, v, 1866, 88 (Canada West).— Allen, iUd. iv, 1864, 69. — 

 -Verr., ibid, iii, 1862, 150 (Maine, breeds). — Boaedm., Pr. Bost. Soc. ix, 1862, 

 126 (Maine, breeds).- Allen, Bull. M. C. Z. ii, 1871,261 (critical).— Mayn., Pr. 

 Bost. Soc. xiv, 1871 (New Hampshire, breeding) ; B. Fla. 1872, 30. — Turn., B. 

 E. Pa. 1869, 21.— Dall & B.vnn., Tr. Chic. Acad, i, 1869, 280 (Alaska).— Codes, 

 Key, 1872, 81, tig. 25.— Snow, B. Kans, 1873, 6. 



Fcecile atricapUlus, Bp., Consp. Av. i, 1850, 230.— C.vB., Mus. Hein. i, 1851, 91. — Codes, 

 Pr. Ess. Inst, vi, 1868, 279. 



Farm palustris, Ndtt., Man. i, 1832, 79. 



Hah. — Eastern United States, rather northerly, and thence to Alaska. Replaced in 

 Southern United States (Maryland and Illinois, southward) by var. caroUnenais, and in . . 

 most of the Missouri region by var. aeptentrionulis. 



This form was not noticed by either Expedition. ^ 



The typical Chickadee occupies but a limited area of the Missouri 

 region, being mostly replaced by the larger, more hoary, and longer- ~ 

 tailed form. It is, however, quoted from Kansas, Western Iowa, and 

 Minnesota, as above. ^ The var. caroUnensis represents the opposite ex-^'-. 

 treme, characterized by its small size, little hoariness, tendency tOy -)/. 

 greater extension of the black on the throat, and particularly by the , ' ., 

 shortnes.s of its tail, which is commonly less in length than the wing. - 

 It is the common resident species as far north as Washington, D. C, J".,'C 

 where Dr. Prentiss and myself were probably mistaken in supposing z,a/ 

 the true atricajnllus to occur. The Titmouse builds a nest of mosses ^ 

 and various other soft vegetable substances, lining it with hair or feath- ^~ ^ 



eis ; it is snugly hidden in the hole of a tree. The eggs are numerous 



five or six — white, with a delicate rosy blush when fresh, speckled all '' ' •' 

 over, but most thickly at the larger end, with reddish-brown. They 

 usually dig a hole for themselves, almost like woodpeckers, choosing a 

 decayed tree easily excavated after the bark is drilled through ; the 

 cavity is of large size, though with a small entrance. They also often 

 occupy knot-holes, which they find to suit their purposes, and simi- 

 lar retreats oi various ©^Jj&ecf Jby Microsoft® 



