TUFTED TITMOUSE. 221 
FAMILY PARIDA. THETITMICE. 
Primaries ten. Base of bill with two tufts of antrorse bristly feathers ending in sim- 
ple filaments without lateral branches concealing the nostrils. Tip of bill mostly un- 
notched. Basal joint of middle toe united nearly all its length with the lateral. Sides 
of tarsus ungrooved. First primary less than half as long as the second. Smail—under 
seven inches. 
Body compressed. Bill shorter than head. Wings rounded, equal to or shorter than 
the rounded tail. Second quill as short as the tenth. Tarsus louger than the middle 
toe and claw, which are about equal to the hinder; soles of toes widened into a palm. 
Plumage rather soft and Jax. 
Genus LOPHOPHANES. Kaup. 
Crown with a conspicuous crest. Bill conical, both upper and lower outlines converz. 
Wings graduated, about equal to tail; first quill very short. ‘Tail moderately long and 
rounded. 
LOPHOPHANES BICOLOR (L.) Bp. 
Tufted Titmouse. 
Parus bicolor, KIRTLAND, Ohio Geolog. Surv, 183¢, 164.—ReAb, Fam. Visitor, ili, 1853, 
33); Proc. Philad. Acad. Nat Sci., vi, 1853, 395. . 
Lophophanes bicolor, WHEATON, Ohio Agric. Rep. for 1860, 365; Reprint, 1861, 7; Food of 
Birds, ete, Ohio Agric. Rep. for 1874, 562; Reprint, 1875, 2.—Lan@pon, Cat. Birds 
of Cin. 1877, 4; Journ. Cin Soc. Nat. Hist, i, 1673, 111; Reprint, 2; Revised List, 
Journ. Cin. Soc. Nat. Hist., i, 1879, 170; Reprint, 4; Bull. Nuit. Orn. Club, iv, 1879, 
116. 
Parus bicolor, LINNZUS, Syst. Nat, i, 1766, 340. 
Lophophanes bicolor, BONAPARTE, Cousp. Av., i, 1850, 228. 
Above leaden gray, forehead black, below lighter or whitish; sides rusty brown. Bill 
black; feet leaden blue. Young: the crest less developed; little if any trace of the 
biack frontlet; sides scarcely washed with rusty. Length, 6-64;' wing and tail, 3-34. 
Habitat, Eastern United States, from Texas and Nebraska to the Connecticut Valley. 
Abundant. Resident. Breeds. This is the common Chickadee of 
Central and Southern Ohio, Although of plain colors, its well-developed 
crest, busy and sprightly habits, loud notes, and familiarity, make it 
rather conspicuous. It is found almost everywhere throughout the year. 
In winter especially it visits the city, but I am confident that it some- 
times builds its nest. in the holes and niches of buildings. I have seen 
them in this city throughout the breeding season, carrying materials for 
building, and feeding their scarcely fledged young. Its ordinary note is 
a monotonous dee, dee, dee, often repeated, as if from habit. Its song isa 
loud whistle, resembling the syllables peto, eto, peto, in addition to which 
it has numerous and varied notes, some of which are modifications, both 
of the ordinary notes and of the song, others appear to be an attempt to 
imitate other birds, the notes of the Blue Jay being frequently recognized. 
I do not think it is generally known that the Crested itmouse has the 
