Genus Lophophanes. Kaup Skiz. Entw. Eur. Thierw. (1829.)
Lophophanes atricristatus. (Cassin.)
Parus atricristatus. Cassin. Proc. Acad. Philada. Vol. V., p. 103,
(Oct. 1850.)
Form. With a high pointed crest, bill rather strong and acute. Wings
long, with the fourth and fifth primaries longest, and nearly equal;
tail rather long.
Dimensions of a skin from Quihi, Texas. Total length, from tip of bill
to end of tail, about 6 inches; wing 3; tail 2¾ inches.
Colors. Male. Crest, black; body, wings and tail above, cinereous;
darker on the latter, and with an olivacious tinge on the back. Front
and inferior surface of the body, ashy white; flanks, ferruginous.
Shafts of primaries, reddish at their bases; those of the tail feathers
white beneath; bill and legs black. Young male with the crest cinereous,
shaded with light brown.
Female. Similar to the male, but slightly smaller, and with the crest
cinereous.
Hab. Texas. Spec. in Mus. Acad. Philada.
Obs. This species is of the same general form and color as _Lophophanes
bicolor_, (Linn.,) and _Lophophanes inornatus_. (Gambel.) It is about
the size of the former, and larger than the latter, and may be readily
distinguished from either of those or from any other species known to
me, by its black crest.
Having access to specimens of all the known North American species of
this family, in the collection of the Academy of Natural Sciences of
Philadelphia, we beg the liberty of laying before our readers a synopsis
of these birds, with short descriptions, and of availing ourselves also
of the present occasion to express our grateful acknowledgments for the
facilities and privileges generously allowed us by the gentlemen of the
Academy.