SPECIES 2. PARUS BICOLOR. 
CRESTED TITMOUSE. 
[Plate VIII. — Fig. 5.] 
Varus bicolor, Linn. Syst. i, 544, 1. — La Mesange huppee de la 
Caroline, Burr, v, 451 . — Toupet Titmouse, Jlrct. Zool. i, JVo. 
324. — Lath. Syn. iv, 544, 11. — Peale’s Museum, JVb. 7364. 
This is another associate of the preceding species; but more 
noisy, more musical, and more suspicious, though rather less 
active. It is, nevertheless, a sprightly bird, possessing a remark- 
able variety in the tones of its voice, at one time not much 
louder than the squeaking of a mouse, and in a moment after 
whistling aloud, and clearly, as if calling a dog; and continuing 
this dog-call through the woods for half an hour at a time. Its 
high, pointed crest, or as Pennant calls it, toupet, gives it a 
smart and not inelegant appearance. Its food corresponds with 
that of the foregoing; it possesses considerable strength in the 
muscles of its neck, and is almost perpetually digging into acorns, 
nuts, crevices, and rotten parts of the bark, after the larvse of 
insects. It is also a constant resident here. When shot at and 
wounded, it fights with great spirit. When confined to a cage it 
soon becomes familiar, and will subsist on hemp-seed, cherry- 
stones, apple seeds, and hickory nuts, broken and thrown into 
it. However, if the cage be made of willows, and the bird not 
much hurt, he will soon make his way through them. The 
great concavity of the lower side of the wings and tail of this 
genus of birds, is a strong characteristic, and well suited to their 
short irregular flight. 
This species is also found over the whole United States; but 
is most numerous towards the north. It extends also to Hudson’s 
bay; and, according to Latham, is found in Denmark, and in 
