VOL. i. PITTSFIELD. MASS.. APRIL, 1SS8. NO. 4. 



Notes on Some Birds of Texas, 



BY J. A. SINGLEY, ESq. 



{continued from page 11.) 



No. 36. Lophophanes bicdlor (Linn.), Tufted Titmouse. 



They are not very particular about a nesting place — provided it's a hollow — and 

 w ill indifferently occupy a natural cavity in a tree, an old woodpecker's nest 

 or a martin box. The nest is composed of dead leaves and moss and very often 

 cast-off snake-skin, invariably lined with some sort of animals' hair. 



The bird will not leave the nest after incubation commences, but will sit close 

 while the entrance to the not is being enlarged, and when a hand is inserted in 

 the cavity will puff itself up. make a hissing noise and peck at the intruder. 

 It has to be litted off the nest before the eggs can be taken, thus making identifi- 

 cation positive. 



The number of eggs in a set varies from four to eight, usually six or seven, and 

 varying from a blunt oval to elongated, almost equal-ended : white, spotted with 

 reddish-brown, thickest at the larger end, where are also found some obscure lilac 

 shell markings. Sometimes the brown is very pale and the spots few and small. 

 Eggs like this resemble those of the Plain Titmouse. A series of fifteen eggs 

 average . 75X.56 inches. Two or more broods are raised, fresh eggs being found 

 from the 1st of April to the last of May. 



