_Lophophanes_, KAUP, Entw. Gesch. Europ. Thierwelt, 1829. (Type,
_Parus cristatus_.)
_Bæolophus_, CABANIS, Mus. Hein. 1850, 1851, 91. (Type, _Parus
bicolor_, L.)
GEN. CHAR. Crown with a conspicuous crest. Bill conical; both upper
and lower outlines convex. Wings graduated; first quill very short.
Tail moderately long and rounded. Nests in hollow trees; eggs white
with fine red dottings.
[Line drawing: _Lophophanes bicolor._
823 ♂]
Of this genus there are several North American species, all agreeing
in general characters. One of these, the _L. wollweberi_, is given by
Cabanis as typical, while he separates the _L. bicolor_ generically
under the name of _Bæolophus_, as having a rather different form of
crest, stouter bill and feet, and longer wings. All of our species,
however, vary in these characters, each one showing a different
combination, so that we prefer to consider all as belonging to the
same genus with _P. cristatus_.
The species, all of which have the under parts uniform whitish, may be
arranged as follows:—
L. bicolor. Above plumbeous; forehead black; crown much like the back.
_Hab._ Eastern Province United States.
L. atricristatus. Above plumbeous; forehead whitish; crown black.
_Hab._ East Mexico, north to Rio Grande.
L. inornatus. Above olivaceous; forehead and crown like the back.
_Hab._ South of Middle and Western Provinces of United States.
L. wollweberi. Sides of head banded black and white; crown ash; throat
black. _Hab._ S. Rocky Mountains of United States; Mexico to Oaxaca.
Lophophanes bicolor, BONAP.