BLACK-CAP TITMOUSE. 151 



for half an hour at a time, attempt a lively, petulant warble, very different 

 from his ordinary notes. On these occasions he appears to flirt about, still 

 hunting for his prey, in an ecstasy of delight and vigour. But after awhile 

 the usual drawling note again occurs. These birds, like many others, are 

 very subject to the attacks of vermin, and they accumulate in great numbers 

 around that part of the head and front which is least accessible to their 

 foot." 



Black-capt Titmouse, Parus atricapillus, Wils. Amer. Orn., vol. i. p. 134. 



Parus atricapillus, Bonap. Syn., p. 100. 



Black-capt Titmouse, Nutt. Man., p. 241. 



Black-capt Titmouse, Parus atricapillus, Aud. Orn. Biog., vol. iv. p. 374. 



Adult Male. 



Bill short, straight, strong, compressed, rather obtuse; both mandibles 

 with the dorsal line slightly convex, the sides sloping and convex, the edges 

 sharp, that of the upper mandible slightly sinuate. Nostrils basal, roundish, 

 concealed by the recumbent feathers. Head large, neck short, body robust. 

 Feet of ordinary length, rather robust; tarsus compressed, with seven anterior 

 scutella; toes large, the three anterior united as far as the second joint; the 

 hind one much stronger, and with its claw nearly as long as the middle toe. 

 Claws large, arched, much compressed, acute. 



Plumage blended, tufty; feathers of the head glossy. Wings of moderate 

 length, the first quill scarcely half the length of the second, which is equal 

 to the first secondary, the third and seventh about equal, the fourth and fifth 

 equal and longest. Tail long, a little arched, emarginate and rounded, of 

 twelve slender rounded feathers. 



Bill brownish-black. Iris dark brown. Feet greyish-blue, as are the 

 claws. The whole upper part of the head and the hind neck pure black, as 

 is a large patch on the throat and fore-neck. Between these patches of black 

 is a band of white, from the base of the bill down the sides of the neck, 

 becoming broader behind, and encroaching on the back, which, with the 

 wing-coverts, is ash-grey tinged with brown. Quills dark greyish-brown, 

 margined with bluish-white, the secondary quills so broadly margined as to 

 leave a conspicuous white dash on the wing; tail of the same colour, the 

 feathers similarly edged. Lower parts brownish-white, the sides pale 

 yellowish-brown. 



Length to end of tail 5^ inches, to end of wings 3^, to end of claws 4j; 

 extent of wing 8^; wing from flexure 2y§; tail 2j^\ these measurements 

 taken from three males. In another, the bill along the ridge ■£§ , along the 

 edge of lower mandible T y, tarsus T V, hind toe T 3 2 -, its claw ylj; middle toe 

 T 5 ¥ , its claw T V 



