Bill very short or of moderate length, straight, strong, compressed,
rather sharp; both mandibles with the dorsal line sloping and slightly
convex, the sides convex, the edges sharp; notches obsolete. Nostrils
basal, roundish, concealed by the feathers. Head rather large,
roundish; neck short; body short, and rather full. Feet of moderate
length, rather stout; tarsus rather short, compressed, with eight
distinct scutella; toes large, the three anterior united as far as the
second joint, the hind toe much stronger and flattened beneath; claws
rather long, stout, arched, much compressed, acute. Plumage very soft,
blended, and full. Feathers at the base of the bill directed forwards.
Wings of moderate length, much rounded, with the first quill very
small, the fourth and fifth longest. Tail rather long, slender, of
twelve narrow rounded feathers. Tongue emarginate and papillate at the
base, abrupt at the tip, with four bristles. Œsophagus narrow,
without dilatation; proventriculus oblong; stomach a rather strong
oblong gizzard, with the muscles distinct, the epithelium dense, thin,
longitudinally rugous; intestine short, of moderate width; cœca
very small; cloaca oblong. Trachea simple, with four pairs of inferior
laryngeal muscles.
GENUS I. PARUS, Linn. TIT.
Bill short, stout; upper mandible with the dorsal line slightly
decurved toward the end, the edges overlapping, with a slight lobe or
festoon near the base, destitute of notch, rather acute; lower
mandible with the dorsal outline slightly convex, the edges direct,
the tip rather acute. Nostrils roundish, covered by bristly feathers.
Head rather large, roundish; neck short. Feet proportionally large;
tarsus of moderate length; hind toe very large and strong, the two
lateral nearly equal, the outer adherent at the base; claws large,
much compressed, very acute. Wings of moderate length, convex. Tail
long, or of moderate length, rounded or graduated, of twelve rather
narrow feathers.
125. 1. Parus bicolor, Linn. Tufted Titmouse.--Crested Titmouse. Great
Chicadee.
Plate XXXIX. Male and Female.
Bill very stout; feathers of the upper part of the head elongated into
a crest; tail long, slightly rounded; upper parts leaden-blue,
forehead black, lower parts greyish-white, the sides light red.
_Male_, 6-1/2, 9.
From Texas, where it breeds, to the Fur Countries, generally
distributed eastward of the Rocky Mountains. Resident in the middle,
southern, and western districts. Abundant.
Crested Titmouse, Parus bicolor, Wils. Amer. Orn. v. i. p.
187.
Parus bicolor, Bonap. Syn. p. 100.
Tufted Titmouse, Parus bicolor, Nutt. Man. v. i. p. 236.
Crested Titmouse, Parus bicolor, Aud. Orn. Biog. v. i. p. 199;
v. v. p. 472.
126. 2. Parus atricapillus, Linn. Black-cap Tit.--Black-cap Titmouse,
or Chicadee.
Plate CCCLIII. Fig. 3. Male. Fig. 4. Female.
Bill moderately stout; tail long, emarginate, and rounded. Upper part
of the head and hind neck, with a large patch on the fore neck, black;
cheeks and sides of the neck white; back yellowish-grey; quills and
tail-feathers dark greyish-brown, margined with bluish-white; the
secondaries broadly edged with white; lower parts pale yellowish-red,
the breast white.
_Male_, 5-1/8, 8-1/4.
From Maryland eastward and northward to Lat. 65°. In Kentucky during
winter. Never in the southern parts.
Black-capt Titmouse, Parus atricapillus, Wils. Amer. Orn. v.
i. p. 134.
Parus atricapillus, Bonap. Syn. p. 100.
Black-capt Titmouse, Nutt. Man. p. 241.
Black-capt Titmouse, Parus atricapillus, Aud. Orn. Biog. v.
iv. p. 374.