PARTD.« — THE TITMICE. 89 



dreariest solitudes of the Southern States these birds were liis constant and 

 amusing companions. Tlieir sprightly movements and their varied musical 

 talents made it e\en more peculiarly interesting at a time when all the other 

 tenants of the forest were silent. The notes of tliis bird, which, when ex- 

 pressed by this writer on paper, seem only quaint and eccentric articulations, 

 were characterized by him as lively, cheering, and varied, delivered with a 

 delicacy, energy, pathos, and variety of e.xpression to which it was far beyond 

 the power of description to do justice. 



These notes, at times, even partook of the high-echoing and clear tones 

 of the Oriole. The usual song of tliis Titmouse is presented by ]Mr. Xuttall 

 by the following characteristics: " Whip4oraAilly-killy-ddy-ddy-dd-it-Uliica- 

 dee-dcc," varied with " Kdi-tcc-did-did-did" etc., etc. Later in the season, 

 under the milder influences of spring, tliese Titmice pursued the insects from 

 branch to branch, calling restlessly and with loud and echoing voices, ijcto- 

 pefo-jxfo, with frecpient (piaint variations too numerous to be repeated. 

 Their song even consisted of successions of playful, pathetic, or querulous 

 calls, never exhiljiting any trills after the manner of the Warblers, yet the 

 compass and tones of their voice, their capricious variety, and their general 

 effect are described as quite as pleasing as the more exquisite notes of our 

 summer songsters. 



■\Viien wounded this Titmouse resists with great spirit any attempt to take 

 him alive, luit soon becomes tame and familiar in confinement, suljsisting on 

 seeds, Ijroken nuts, etc. Impatient of restraint, it incessantly attempts to 

 work its way out of its cage. 



The general habits of these birds correspond closely with those of the large 

 family to which they belong. They move usually in small flocks of from 

 five to ten through the branches of trees and bushes in quest of insects, 

 examiue the cracks and crevices of the bark, hang on the under side of small 

 branches, move sideways around the trunks of trees, probe the openings in 

 acorns, pine-cones, nuts, etc., for its food, and retain apparently the family 

 group rintil the spring, when they separate into pairs- 



One of these birds kept in confinement by Dr. Bachman of Charleston 

 was in the habit of hiding its food in the corner of its cage, in a small 

 crevice, anil of creeping at night into a small box, where it lay doubled up 

 like a ball till the first light of tlie morning, wlien it resumed its restless 

 habits. 



Tiie Tufted Titmouse passes its niglits and days, when the weather is in- 

 clement, in the hollows of decayed trees or the deserted lioles of the wood- 

 peckers. In such places it also builds its nests. It has been known to exca- 

 vate a hole for itself even in liard sound wood. Its nest is simply a rude 

 lining of the selected cavity, composed of various soft and warm materials. 

 In this are deposited from six to eight eggs. But a single brood is raised in 

 a season. The young birds, as soon as they are fledged, hunt in (company 

 with their parents, and remain associated witli them until the following 

 12 



