134 THE TITMOUSE. 



tits and golden-crests, fly on without any ap- 

 parent care as to direction constantly flitting 

 from tree to tree, twittering a low sweet note, as if 

 singing to themselves sometimes climbing back 

 downwards along the under-sides of the topmost 

 branches of the tall pines, peering into every 

 crevice for insect-hiders ; at others, descending to 

 the ground, they cling to the slender flower- 

 stalks to catch drowsy insects, sipping the sweets 

 stored in these perfumed drinking-places. 



They nest in June, making a hole in the dead 

 branch of a pine-tree ; there is no lining in the 

 hole, but the eggs are laid on the dust made in 

 enlarging or boring it. Eggs in British Museum 

 collection from Colville. They range northward 

 to Fort Simpson, and southward through Oregon 

 and California. This applies to all three species. 



The following four species represent the 

 Tits : 



WESTERN TITMOUSE (Parus occidentalis., 

 Baird). Common on Vancouver Island and 

 along the whole course of the Boundary line to 

 the summit of the Rocky Mountains. A few 

 remain during the winter at Colville, but the 

 greater portion leave in November and arrive 

 again in April; they nest in June, choosing a 

 hole in a dead tree ; line the nest with grass and 



