106 TUFTED TITMOUSE. 
NAMES: Wren-Tit, Ground-Tit, Ground Wren.—Erdmeise (German). 
SCIENTIFIC NAMES: Parus fasciatus Gambel (1845). CHAM/EZA FASCIATA GamBEL, Proc. Phila. 
Acad. ITI. (1846). 
DESCRIPTION: “Above, plain brownish, the tail showing faint narrow darker bars (nearly or quite 
obsolete in some specimens); beneath, pale cinnamon, or buffy, middle of belly somewhat paler, throat 
and chest usually faintly streaked with darker. 
“Length about 6.00 to 6.50 inches.” (Ridgway.) 
TUFTED TITMOUSE. 
Parus bicolor Linn. 
Puate V. Fic. 2. 
ON THE beginning of March, 1879, when I made my first excursion through the monoto- 
d - nous post-oak woods of Lee County, Texas, the Turrep TirmicE were the first birds 
with which I struck up an acquaintance. They accompanied me in small troops through 
the woods, and their very loud and vehement notes reverberated from all sides. I found 
them common from Austin to the coast region, even in the dreariest solitudes, where 
only few other birds could be observed. Their activity and far sounding voices made me 
oblivious to the absence of the usual woodland songsters. They fearlessly entered even 
those gardens which are situated in close proximity to dwellings, exceeding, as they 
do, in familiarity and boldness any of our other birds, with which I am acquainted. 
Excepting the Blue Jay, I know of no bird that can vie with the Tufted Titmouse 
in persistent clamoring. All its notes are very loud and clear, and uttered with whist- 
ling reverberation. During the sunny winter-days it shouts with all its might: Aee-dle- 
dee-dle-dee-dle-dee-dle, and this is particularly the case as the mating season approaches, 
Although these notes form a loud and melodious whistle, their ceaseless repetition 
soon renders them monotonous. Later in the season, when the mild influences of the 
southern sun make themselves felt, the song becomes more varied. In restless excitement 
the bird pursues its insect prey, climbing from branch to branch, and never for a moment 
‘ ceasing to emit its loud and ringing notes. It is at such a time that the observer 
hears quite a variety of different sounds, among which the loud and querulous peto- 
peto-peto-peto-daytee-daytée is especially pleasing. Such echoing notes enliven the 
tedious monotony of the post-oak woods. The birds seem to pay little attention to the 
observer as they hop and climb around among the branches, but in reality nothing 
escapes their notice. They are extraordinarily inquisitive, even daring to come close to 
the observer. The slightest movement, however, will drive them off, and cause them to 
emit a loud and creaking cry, which is well known as a signal of hasty retreat to all 
birds within hearing distance. They thus prove very annoying to the naturalist, and 
still more so to the hunter and collector. 
They clamber about among the limbs with great agility and restlessness, and may 
often be seen hanging, head downward, on horizontal branches and trunks of trees, whilst 
