144 BIRDS OF FIELD, FOREST AND PARK 



with brown on the sides. Like Nuthatches, 

 they nest in deserted holes of Woodpeckers, 

 rarely excavating their own chambers. Some- 

 times they nest in bird houses. They are about 

 six and one-half inches in length. They are 

 usually permanent residents throughout their 

 range. 



Chickadee. A very attractive little fellow in 

 song, dress and habits is the friendly Chick- 

 adee, or Black-capped Titmouse. When the 

 storms of winter have covered the earth in a 

 heavy mantle of white and the chill winds blow 

 drearily through the' leafless trees, this hardy 

 little citizen is much in evidence, for severe 

 weather conditions seem to have no terrors for 

 him. Then their sprightly notes are heard about 

 the farmhouse and in the park; and so fearless 

 are they that with little encouragement they will 

 come close about your habitation. 



In truth, with a little cultivation. Chickadees 

 may be made so friendly and fearless that they 

 will light upon hat or hand, even feeding upon 

 a morsel held between the lips. Mr. Harold 

 Baynes relates some most interesting experi- 

 ences of this kind. 



In winter you will come upon a band of Chick- 

 adees, merrily searching the trunk, branches, 

 even the cones and needles of evergreens for the 

 eggs and grubs of insects, which comprise their 

 food. They, too, are excellent acrobats, climb- 

 ing about like spiders, now clinging to the under 

 side of a limb, now hanging, head downward, 

 never stopping their work except to utter their 

 happy ^Uhick-a-dee-dee-dee,^^ which so clearly 



