two to thirty feet from the
ground. They line the bottom of the cavity with leaves, bark, fibres and
hair, and during April or May lay five to eight white eggs, plentifully
specked with reddish brown. Size .74 x .54.

732. BLACK-CRESTED TITMOUSE. _Baeolophus atricristatus atricristatus._

Range.--Lower Rio Grande Valley in Texas and southward.

This Titmouse has a black crest and the forehead is white; otherwise
similar to the preceding. Like the last, these birds nest in deserted
Woodpeckers' holes and natural cavities in trees, either in open woods
or in the vicinity of habitations. Their eggs are sparsely spotted with
reddish brown, and not usually distinguishable from those of the Tufted
Titmouse. Size .70 x .54. Data.--Brownsville, Texas, May 11, 1892. Nest
of moss, hair, down and wool in cavity in tree in open woods near town;
4 feet from the ground.

[Illustration 435: White.]
[Illustration: Tufted Titmouse. Black-crested Titmouse.]
[Illustration: White.]
[Illustration: deco.]
[Illustration: right hand margin.]

Page 434

733. PLAIN TITMOUSE. _Baeolophus inornatus inornatus_.

Range.--California and Oregon west of the Sierra Nevadas.

This common, slightly crested Titmouse is grayish brown above and
grayish white below. They nest anywhere in cavities that meet with their
approval, about old buildings, in fence posts, etc., as well as holes in
trees. Their eggs range from five to eight in number and are white,
usually spotted with pale brownish. Size .72 x .52. Data.--Tulare Co.,
California, April 3, 1895. Nest in an oak tree, 32 feet from the ground,
in a natural cavity of a horizontal limb; composed of grasses, feathers
and fur.

733a. GRAY TITMOUSE. _Baeolophus inornatus griseus._

Range.--Southeastern United States, from Colorado and Nevada southward.

The nesting habits of this gray Titmouse are just the same as those of
the other.

733b. ASHY TITMOUSE. _Baeolophus inornatus cineraceus._

Range.--Southern Lower California.

The habits of this variety are the same as those of the Plain Titmouse
and doubtless the eggs are also.

734. BRIDLED TITMOUSE. _Baeolophus wollweberi._

Range.--Mexico north to southern Arizona, New Mexico and western Texas.

This handsome species is quite abundant in the mountains of southern
Arizona, and nests in woods or about ranches, lining the cavities of
trees with moss, down, leaves, etc. The three to seven eggs that they
lay are pure white, unmarke