482 NESTS AND EOGS OF 



.74X.53, .76X.54, .78x.54, .80x.56; a common size is .74x.52 inches. The Tufted Tit- 

 mouse will frequently nest in boxes that are put up in the woods for that purpose. 

 The birds are close sitters, and often have to be lifted from the nest before the eggs 

 can be secured. 



731a. TEXAN TUTTED TITMOUSE. , Parus Ucolor texensis Senn. Geog. 

 Dist. — Southeastern Texas (Bee and Cameron counties). 



This race of the Tufted Titmouse was first described by Mr. George b; Sennett 

 Irom specimens taken in Bee county, Texas. Its general color is paler than that o^ 

 P. Ucolor. Its nesting and eggs are indistinguishable from those of the northern 

 bird. 



732. BLACK-CRESTED TITMOUSE. Parus atricristatus Cass. Geog. Dist.— 

 Eastern Mexico, north into Southern Texas. 



An inhabitant of Southern Texas and southward into Eastern Mexico. Mr. 

 "William Lloyd states that this species is a tolerably common resident in Concho 

 and Tom Green counties, Texas, and from thence to Bl Paso is the prevailing spe- 

 cies. Nests were found in old Woodpecker holes April 15, 18 and 20. On the Lower 

 Hio Grande the Black-crested Titmouse was found to be common by Dr. James C. 

 Merrill and Mr. George B. Sennett, where nests containing eggs were found in April. 

 Besides old Woodpeckers' excavations, the nesting sites chosen are hollows or 

 deep cracks in tree trunks. The nest is composed of grasses, inner bark, feathers, 

 moss and wool, and, like the nest of the Blue Grosbeak, it almost invariably contains 

 pieces of snakeskin. The eggs are usually five or six in number, with a clear, 

 white ground-color, and small spots of chestnut sparsely scattered over the surface; ' 

 in other specimens the markings are larger and more closely disposed over the shell. 

 They can be distinguished at a glance from those of L. hieolor. The spots on the 

 eggs of L. atricristatus are fewer and more scattered than on those of Ucolor. The 

 average size of a set of six eggs is .67x.54 inches. 



733. FLAIH' TITMOUSE. Parus inornatus Gamb. Geog. Dist. — Pacific coast 

 of California to, Oregon. 



The Plain or Western Tufted Titmouse is resident along the coast of California. 

 In some localities it is common, and in others, apparently as well suited to its mode 

 •of living, it is scarce or wanting. The nesting sites are the hollows of limbs, usiially 

 in oaks. Mr. Walter E. Bryant, of Oakland, California, found a nest of this species 

 placed in the ventilator of an outbuilding. The shape of the nest conforms to the 

 character of the cavity in which it is built; this is filled with fine grasses, feathers, 

 cow's hair, rabbit's fur, moss, and almost any soft substance that is available. Mr. 

 H. R. Taylor, of Alameda, California, observes that the birds begin to construct 

 their nests as early as March 7, and the selection of a hole well sheltered from the 

 lain is a very necessary precaution. From all accounts the bird is a close sitter; 

 ■evsn when a stick is thrust into the nest cavity it is met with a vigorous resistance; 

 ana the bird, if taken from the nest and tossed into the air, will often return im- 

 mediately and settle down on the eggs in presence of the collector. Under these 

 circumstances one or more of the eggs are frequently broken or injured by the bird's 

 claws as she is being removed from the nest. The eggs are five or eight in number, 

 and may be plain white or spotted. Mr. Frank B. Webster has kindly sent me six 



