80 BIRDS OF ILLINOIS. 



of the table bread-crumbs, bits of meat, or indeed anything eat- 

 able. The notes of this species in their general character resemble 

 those of the Chickadees, but are much louder and more vehement, 

 In spring the male has a very pleasant call, consisting of a repeti- 

 tion of the syllables peto, peto, peto in a very clear and rather 

 sweet whistling tone. The nest is built in cavities of trees, like 

 that of other species of the family. 



Subgenus Parus Linnaeus. 



Parus LINN. S. N. ed. 10, i.1758,189; ed 12. i. 1766,340. Type, by elimination, P. major Linn. 



"GEN. CHAE. Head not crested. Body and head full. Tail moderately long, and 

 slightly rounded. Bill conical, not very stout; the upper and under outlines very gently 

 and slightly convex. Tarsus but little longer than middle toe. Head and neck generally 

 black or brown, with sides white. Nest in holes. Eggs white, sprinkled with red." (Hist. 

 N.Am.B.) 



The species of this subgenus which occur in Illinois, may be dis- 

 tinguished as follows: 



COMMON CHARACTERS. Above plain grayish, with or without distinct whitish edgings 

 on larger wing feathers; beneath whitish, the sides Tinged with ochreous, fulvous, or ru- 

 fous; entire pileum, chin, and throat, black, or brownish, the sides of the head whitish. 

 Sexes alike, and young similar in plumage to the adult. 



a 1 . Crown and throat deep black. 



1. P. atricapillus. Tail about equal to the wing (rarely a very little shorter, usually 



longer); greater wing- coverts and tertials very conspicuously edged with whitish; 

 black of the throat much broken posteriorly by white tips to the feathers. Wing 

 2.50-2.75 (2.63), tail 2.50-2.75 (2.63j, tarsus, .65-.70 (.69). Hab. Northern portion of the 

 State; very rare winter visitant to southern half. 



2. P.'carolinensis. Tail decidedly shorter than wing: wing-coverts and tertials with- 



out distinct whitish edges; black of throat with abruptly defined posterior border. 

 Wing 2.40-2.60 f2.44), tail 2.10-2.50 (2.19), tarsus .55- .65 (.61). Hob. Southern half or 

 more of the State, resident wherever found. 

 a 2 . Crown and throat brownish, the latter darkest. 



3. P. hudsonicus. Crown hair-brown, back slightly more olivaceous; sides of neck ash- 



gray, the cheeks paler, incliniug to white anteriorly; throat sooty blackish; sides 

 dull rusty. Hab. Bare winter visitant to extreme northern part of State. 



Parus atricapillus Linn. 



CHICKADEE. 



Popular synonyms. Black-capped Titmouse or Chlcadee; Eastern Chickadee; Northern 

 Chickadee. 



Parus atricapillus LINN. 8. N. ed. 12, i. 1766, 341. WILS. Am. Orn. i, 1808, 13i, pi. 8. fig. 4. 

 Sw. & RICH. F. B. A. ii, 1831, 226. AUD. Orn. Biog. iv. 1838. pi. 353, fig. 3; Synop. 1839, 

 79; B. Am. li. 181!, 146, pi. 12G.-BAIRD. B. N. Am. 1858, 390; Cat. N. Am. B. 1859. No. 

 290; Review, 1864. 80,-CouES, Key, 1872, 81; Check List. 1873. No. 31; 2d ed. 1882, No. 

 44; B. N. W. 1874. 20.-B. B. & R. Hist. N. Am. B. i. 1874, 96, pi, vii, fig. 1. REDGW. 

 Norn. N. Am. B. 1881. No. 4L 



