Kinglet WESTERN BIRDS 



the street, unmindful of the near proximity of human 

 beings. 



When nesting time comes these birds seek the high 

 altitudes among the pines and firs of the mountains. 

 Sometimes before they leave their winter homes they 

 favor us with a song, and a wonderfully loud, clear, 

 liquid one it is. One marvels that so small a bird can 

 be so loud and beautiful a vocal performer. 



Dawson tells us that these midgets nest in north- 

 eastern Washington. He gives the common call note as 

 chit-tit, or chit-it-it, and the core of the song, which can 

 be whistled by the human listener and heard half a mile 

 away, as tew, tew, tew, tew, titooreet, titooreet, the last 

 phrases being given with a rising inflection, and with an 

 accent of ravishing sweetness. The nesting song is simi- 

 lar in character, but longer and varied somewhat by 

 individuals. 



Mr. Dawson describes a nest which he found about 

 thirty-five feet from the ground in a sixty-foot fir tree. 

 It was made mostly of the drooping brown moss so 

 prevalent in that district, and well concealed, being 

 simply a shade thicker than the rest of the limb. Be- 

 sides the moss it was made of vegetable down, cottons 

 from pussy willow and cottonwood trees, hair, fine 

 grasses in abundance, and other soft material. The lin- 

 ing was exclusively feathers, those of Robins' breast be- 

 ing most abundant. 



There were nine eggs in that cosy nest among the firs. 

 What an entrancing sight it would be to behold a pair 

 of Kinglets with such a family of fluffy young! It 

 would be well worth the patience and study to find them. 

 It was only by chance that Dawson came upon this 

 treasure, he happening to see, through his binoculars, 

 the owner going to it. 



The Kinglets are among our most useful birds. They 

 are solitary in that they do not forage in flocks, but 



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