54 LAND-BIRDS. 



not readily find among them, in cold weather, the small insects 

 and their eggs which infest the bark of other trees, and upon 

 which they chiefly depend for food.^ I have always found them 

 more abundant on the edges of lanes through our woods than in 

 other places, and there one may watch them scrambling about 

 from twig to twig and from tree to tree, so busily engaged as 

 almost to ignore one's immediate presence. They are not quite 

 so restless as the Ruby-crowned " Wrens," but are equally so- 

 ciable, and often join the merry Chickadees and their follow- 

 ers, in pursuit of their common prey. In spring, when the 

 cold of winter has become somewhat modified, they are rather 

 less social, roam more freely, and finally move northward, their 

 place being immediately supplied by others, who have been 

 living in a warmer climate. These possess habits more nearly 

 akin to the habits of the Ruby-crowned " Wrens " than to 

 those of their predecessors, and frequently catch insects in the 

 air, or get them by fluttering before some opening cluster of 

 leaves, — while so doing, causing their wings to quiver rapidly, 

 " and often exposing the golden feathers of their head, which 

 are opened and shut with great adroitness," which they also 

 more frequently do when skij^ping about from bough to bough. 

 Many pass the summer in northern Maine, and in certain jDarts 

 of the White Mountains, but none breed in a more southern 

 country, unless in New Jersey, as Dr. Abbott thinks is the 

 case. They are '' quite common at Umbagog in June " ; " and 

 judging from the condition of female specimens taken, lay their 

 eggs about June 1st." Messrs. Maynard and Brewster " found 

 several pairs in the thick hemlock woods, that evidently had 

 nests in the immediate vicinity." 



d. Beyond an occasional weak note, or a cry of tsee-tsee- 

 tsee, the Golden-crowned " Wrens " are usually silent, whilst 

 staying in their winter homes, except on the approach or 



tainly exceptional witli respect to this Titmice all affect the pines in winter, 



point, inasmuch as the Golden-crested and therefore I am at a loss to explain 



King-let's preference for evergreens, the apparent dislike of these birds to 



especially spruces and hemlocks, is or- those trees in that season. About the 



dinarily not less marked in winter than fact I do not think myself mistaken, 



at all other seasons. — W. B. They share the Chickadee's partiality 



^ The Nuthatches, Creepers, and for white birches. 



