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 inany 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. Atner. 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 51 inches, to end of wings 3f, to end of claws 4J ; 
extent of wing 8? ; wing from flexure 2f| ; tail 2^ i these measurements 
taken from three males. In another, the bill along the ridge T b-, along the 
edge of lower mandible T 7 2 ] tarsus /g ; hind toe T 3 2 , its claw xz ] middle toe 
its claw T \. 
I 
