330 BULLETIN 191, UNITED STATES NATIONAL MUSEUM 



Harrison F. Lewis (1931) describes an extraordinary experience with 

 a chickadee that he beheves was not previously tamed. He writes : 



On a chilly clay, with drizzling rain, about the year 1915, as I -vrsis walking 

 on the outskirts of Wolfville, Nova Scotia, I saw a Black-capped Chickadee 

 (Pcnthcstcs atricafnU~i!s atricapillus) feeding in a leafless alder bush. There \vas 

 nothing unusual in its appearance, but the fact that it did not seem to heed me 

 in the least when my path led me within a few feet of it attracted my attention. 

 Wondering a little how near the bird I would have to go before it actively evaded 

 me, I paused a moment, then stepped slowly in its direction. When I had advanced 

 to the outer twigs of the bush in which it was busily feeding, it still appeared 

 unaware of my presence, so, while expecting to see it fiy away at any moment, I 

 slowly extended my hand toward it. When my fingers were close to it I suddenly 

 closed them upon it and had it securely in my grasp. The Chickadee seemed 

 greatly surprised at this occurrence and struggled violently for a moment in a 

 futile attempt to free itself, but I believe that my own surprise was equal to 

 that of the bird, for I had confidently anticipated its escape rather than its capture. 



When I had recovered a little from the first shock of unexpected success, I 

 began to doubt whether the Chickadee could be in good health. "Perhaps," I 

 thought, "it has from some cause lost the ability to fly." I took it into a neigh- 

 boring house and showed it to one or two other persons, holding it in my hand 

 all the while, then I carried it to the open door and released it. It flew away at 

 once with strong, sustained flight as though in the best of condition. 



On the other hand, William H. Longley (MS.) speaks of "a 

 chic.kadee incubating- seven eggs which would bite and bufifet our 

 fingers if we put them too close, while the mate fed near by, only 

 occasionally raising its voice expressing what may have been an objec- 

 tion to our presence." 



The following quotations refer to the roosting habits of the chickadee. 

 Lynds Jones (1910) says: "On numerous occasions I have started 

 them from their night roost in the thick of a leafy grape vine in mid- 

 winter." And Henry D. Minot (1895) recounts the following observa- 

 tion: "February 10th. This afternoon, just before sunset, I noticed 

 two Chickadees, feeding on the ground, and pecking at a bone, to 

 which a remnant of meat was attached. * * * They scarcely left the 

 ground * * * tmtil half-past five, when one flew away over the house- 

 top and disappeared. The other continued to hop about on the ground ; 

 and then, without any intimation of his purpose, abruptly flew to the 

 piazza, whether I followed him. He took possession of a Peewee's 

 nest, which stood upon the top of a corner-pillar, adjoining the house, 

 and. having stared at me for a moment, tucked his head under his wing, 

 and apparently leaned against the wall. * * * Another retires as regu- 

 larly at sunset, and sleeps in a hole of a white birch, evidently once 

 a Chickadee's nest, perhaps his own." Eugene P. Odum (MS.) says: 



In fall and winter most individuals roosted in dense conifer branches rather than 

 in cavities. However, during the winter, two cavities were discovered where single 

 birds were known to spend the night. 



