MO BIBDS of ILLINOIS. 



of the table — bread-crumbs, bits of meat, or indeed anytbiiig eat- 

 able. The notes of this species in their general character resemble 

 those of the Chickadees, but are much louder and more vehement. 

 In sprinjj; tho male has a very pleasant call, consisting of a rei)eti- 

 tion of the syllables pito, pito, pito in a very clear and rather 

 sweet whistling tone. The nest is built in cavities of trees, like 

 that of other species of the family. 



Subgenus Parus Linnaeus. 



7'ari/s I.ixs. S. N. ed. 10. 1.1758,189; ed 12, 1. lTC6.34(i. Type, by climinnUon. P. major Linn. 



"Gen. Chab. Head not crested. Body and head full. Tail moderately lonR. and 

 .<>llKlitly rovindod. Bill conical, not very stout; the upper nud under outlines very Kently 

 anil slightly convex. Tarsus but little longer than middle too. Head and neck Keucnilly 

 black or brown, with sides white. Nest in holes. Eges white, sprinkled with red." (IJisl. 

 N.Am.B.) 



The species of this subgenus which occur in Illinois, may be dis- 

 tinguished as follows: 



Common Chahacters. Above plain eraylsh, with or without distinct whitish edcinKS 

 on Inriter wing feathers; beneath whitish, the sides tineed with ochreous. fulvous, or ru- 

 fous; entire pileum, chin, and throat, black, or brownish, the sides of the bead whitish. 

 Sexes alike, and youne similar in plumaee to the adult. 



a'. Crown and throat deep black. 



1. P. atricapillns. Tail about c<iual to the wine (rarely a very little shorter, usually 



lonscr); cri'uterwinc-cjvertsand tertials very conspicuously eoced with whitish; 

 black of the throat much broken posteriorly by white tips to the feathers. Winit 

 2.iJ0-2.75 (2.t;t). tail 2.50-2.75 (2.6.3). tarsus, .W-.70 (CO). Uab. Northern portion of the 

 State; very rare winter visitant to southern half. 



2. F.'carolinensis. Tail decidedly .shorter than wing: wing-coverts and tertials with- 



out distinct whitisli edges; black of throat with abruptly defined posterior border. 

 Wln« 2.I0-2.C0 (2.11), tail 2.10-2.50 (2.19), tarsus .Si-.CS (.<>1). Hah. Southern half or 

 more of the State, resident wherever found, 

 a'. Crown and throat brownish, the latter darkest. 



3. P. hudsonicus. Crown hair- brown, back slightly more olivaceous; siilcsof neck ash- 



gray, the cheeks paler. Inclining to white anteriorly; throat sooty blackish; sides 

 dull rusty. Ifab. Rare winter visitant to extreme northern part of State. 



Parvis atricapillus Liuu. 



CHICKADEE. 



Popular synonyms. Black-capped Titmouse or Chlcadee; Eastern Chickadee; Kortbern 

 Chickadee. 



I'arus atricapillus LlNN. S. N. ed. 12. 1, 17fiC. .Sll.-Wll.s. Am. Orn. 1, 1808. 131. pi. 8. llg. 4.— 

 8w. & Rich. F. B. A. ii. 1831, 220.— Aud. Orn. Biog. Iv. 1««. pi. 35.1. fig. 3; Synop. 1839. 

 79; B. Am. II. 1811, 110, pi. 12G.— Baikd. B. N. Am. IS3S. {RiO; Cat. N, Am. B. 18,-.9. No. 

 290; Review. W>i, 80.-CoUES, Key. 1872, 81; Check List, isrt. No. 31; 2d ed. 18S2, No. 

 «; B. N. W. 1874, 20.-B. B. & B. Hist N. Am. B. i, 1874, 9C, pi, vil, flg. l.-RiDOW. 

 Norn. N. Am. B. 1881, No. il. 



