1134 Report of State Geolo(!ist. 



Subfamily PARING. Titmice. 

 173. Gescs PARUS LtstN^us. 



a^. Head crested. Subgenus Lophophanbs Kaup. P. Mcolor Linn. 308 



a'. Head not crested. Subgenus Parus. 



6^. Tertials and greater wing coverts without distinct whitish edgings; wing 



under 2.50. P. carolinensis And. 310 



6^. Tertials and greater wing coverts with di.stinct whitish edgings; wing usu 



ally over 2.50. P. atricapillus Linn. 309 



•Subgenus Lophophanes Kaup. 



*308. (731). Parus bicolor Linn. 



Tufted Titmouse. 

 Synonyms, Peter-Peter, Sugar Bird. 



Adult. — Conspicuously crested; above, ashy; forehead, black; below, 

 whitish; sides, brownish. 



Length, 6.65-6.50; wing, 3.05-3.45; tail, 2.80-3.15. 



Eange. — Eastern United States north to Connecticut Valley and 

 southern Michigan; west to central Texas and Nebraska. 



Nest, in Woodpecker's hole, or natural cavity in stump or tree, 2 to 

 60 feet from ground, generally 5 to 30 feet; of leaves, bark, moss, 

 hair, feathers, and sometimes snake skin; loosely constructed. Eggs, 

 5-6, sometimes as many as 9; white or creamy- white, speckled and 

 spotted, often heaviest near la:^er end, with hazel, rufous, chestnut 

 or vinaceous, and sometimes lilac; .71 by .54. 



An abundant resident in southern Indiana and north, at least in 

 the Wabash Valley, to Parke, Warren, Carroll, Tippecanoe and Wa- 

 bash counties. Northward, in many localities, it is rare, and about 

 the southern end of Lake Michigan it is apparently wanting. Mr. J. 

 G. Parker, Jr., informs me it is not uncommon at Kouts, Ind., 60 

 miles southeast of Chicago, 111., where he took a specimen, November 

 23, 1894, and a pair, December 10, 1896. 



In the northesn part of the State and in Michigan it*^ irregular in 

 its occurrence. Some places it appears occasionally as a straggler in 

 fall, winter or spring; other places, it is a summer resident, disappear- 

 ing in the fall and returning in the spring. In other localities it is 

 present, some years, the year round, and others only in summer. It, 

 however, through our northern counties, seems to be increasing in 

 numbers,. and in some places, where it was only seen occasionally cer- 

 tain seasons, has become a permanent part of their bird life. Prior to 

 1890, the only record I had from Starke County was from Mr. H. K. 

 Coale, who found a pair there, January 1, 1884. At English Lake, 



