TUFTED TITMOUSE. 107 
exploring with great thoroughness every crevice of the bark for inseéts, their eggs and 
larve. They also show a liking for oily seeds, particularly those of hemp and the 
different species of small wild sunflowers. At times they will not despise berries, though 
they eat their seeds only. They also pay occasional visits to meat which has been 
hung out in the air to dry. 
Whenever they resort to gardens, they carefully scrutinize every tree for insects, 
and though they do not seem to concern themselves about the actions of anyone who 
may happen to be working in their immediate neighborhood, perhaps directly under 
them, they in reality observe every movement, and hastily retreat at the slightest sign 
of danger.—In winter they roam about in small troops, and seem always to be busily 
employed in looking for food. It can not be said, however, that they live on perfectly 
amicable terms with one another. Only too often squabbles, and even serious battles, 
mar their sociability. After the beginning of April, or even. earlier, they are usually 
seen in pairs. At night, and at the approach of stormy and cold weather, they seek 
refuge in the cavities and the holes of Woodpeckers’ which are to be found in almost 
every post-oak. 
The Tufted Titmouse always chooses cavities for its nesting site. It prefers above 
all others abandoned Woodpeckers’ holes, especially those of the Carolina, or Red-bellied . 
Woodpecker. It has also been known to excavate a hole for itself. I always found 
the birds common where there was an abundance of natural cavities and Wood- 
peckers’ holes; where these were scarce, on the other hand, the birds were usually rare. 
The quantity of building materials used, varies in accordance with the depth, and 
circumference of the cavity. The foundation of the nest is made of grasses, Spanish 
moss, and bark-strips; the lining usually consists of an abundance of feathers and soft 
hair. Although these materials are loosely matted together, as is the case with all 
birds breeding in cavities, the whole structure is, nevertheless, very warm and soft. 
The eggs, six to eight in number, are white, thickly sprinkled with rusty-brown dots, 
interspersed with a few larger spots of lilac. The average size is .74%.52. 
During the time of nest-building and breeding silence prevails. The old birds 
stealthily approach the nest in order not to betray its locality. As soon as the 
eggs are hatched, the parents become ceaselessly engaged in feeding their numerous 
offspring and in cleaning the nest. In my garden in Lee County, Texas, they nested 
regularly in the nesting boxes which I had put up for them in trees surrounding my 
house. They raised two broods annually. 
In the beginning of October, 1882, I left Texas and settled in the south-western 
part of Missouri (Lawrence County), near woods bordering on the prairie. Here I 
greatly missed the Tufted Titmouse; its absence and that of other birds of like breeding 
habits being accounted for by the fact, that the hard and gnarled ‘‘black jacks” (Quercus 
nigra) did not offer the slightest trace of a cavity or Woodpecker’s hole. Early in the 
following spring, I put up in the orchard and ornamental trees, and on the edge of the 
woods, near my dwelling, numerous nesting boxes, intended for my favorite, the Blue- 
bird. They were hardly ready for occupancy, when a few Tufted Titmice made their 
‘appearance. They inspected one of the boxes from a short distance, and then cautiously 
peeped into it. It was remarkable how shy these birds, which I had found so con- 
