PASSERES: TITMICE, ETC. 



155 



Fio. 170. 



SJ 



Water Ouzel, Cinr.lus mexicana, 

 Baird. 



FIG. 171. 



Closely related to the Thrushes are the curious Water 

 Ouzels or Cinclidse, which fre- 

 quent clear streams, into which 

 they walk or dive and move 

 about in search of water-insects 

 and other small animals for food. 

 The Water Ouzel (Fig. 170) of the 

 Rocky Mountain regions is our 

 only species. 



Somewhat like the Thrushes, 

 only much smaller, are the Syl- 

 vias or Sylviidae, of which our Kinglets are examples. 

 The Ruby-crowned Kinglet of North 

 America is four and a half inches long, 

 and is at once distinguished by the 

 crown, which has a large concealed 

 patch of scarlet feathers which are white 

 at the base. 



The Chickadees or Titmice or Par- 

 idce (Fig. 172), are very small oscines, 

 about iive and a half to seven inches 

 .long, with ten primaries, and mostly of plain colors. 

 They are very pretty little birds, and are seen at all sea- 

 sons of the year, even in the severest weather of winter. 



The Nuthatches or Sittidse (Fig. 173) are small oscines, 

 four to six inches long, with a slender, straight, but appar- 

 ently slightly recurved bill, and with long wings which 

 have ten primaries, the lirst of which is very short or spu- 

 rious. They feed upon nuts and insects. They move up 

 and down the tree-trunks and along the branches with the 

 greatest facility, easily assuming every possible attitude. 



The Creepers or Certhiadje (Fig. 17-1), are small oscines, 

 which have a decurved bill and rigid tail-feathers similar 



Ruby-crowned Kiuglet, 

 Etgulu-s calendula, 

 Idcht. 



