H Dixon 1952 Parus bicolor - atricristatus Feb 9. 2 1/2 mi ESE Del Valle, Singing was intermittent throughout the morning. Pair 699-700 and 703-704 were quiet and difficult to locate. The latter 2 birds were foraging low in scrubby elms of creek bank when taken. Feb 10. 10 mi W Bastrop Feb 11 3 mi ESE Del Valle, 300 ft., Travis Co., Texas - CALM - scattered clouds. I drove down to the bottomland S of Orion Creek on the property of Mr. Herbert Smart at 8:20. (Mr. Smart is a lawyer who practices in Austin, I was told by his employer). I worked down the tributary which joins Orion Creek from the S. Titmouse singing along creek across grainfield to W of tributary. (This area about where pair 703-704 was taken yesterday). Answer from upclose to S of me. I heard song pe-ta - - - and worked downstream. Titmouse scold vet-vet-vet - birds moved down and across corner of field to streambank trees near scooped out watering place. I approached cautiously - pair in leafless tree; ? flew to next tree 18 ft E and sang. I shot at ? with .38 and she darted W into tree 135 ft away and I lost sight of her. ? sang one song grasp. I walked W looking for ? and then saw a titmouse perched on a branch looking - W in vicinity where bird shot at that time. I fired at this bird and downed it; its crie when handled brought no response from the other bird. No calls of any sort 8:50 - 9:10 as I searched for mate of bird taken (709, a ?) No trace of mate so I worked downstream. 709 ?