236 Sketches of Some Common Birds. 



skip, and jump, from branch to branch, head down, or 

 head up, as is most convenient, incessantly prying into 

 the private affairs of the insect world, laying waste the 

 prospects of a promising family with one stroke of the 

 bill, and hunting up the vermin with such untiring 

 industry as fairly to win for him a conspicuous place 

 among the farmer's friends." 



In the latter part of February the numbers of individ- 

 uals of this species seem to increase, probably through the 

 arrival of visitors from more southern localities who are 

 seeking northern summer homes. They grow more noisy 

 and musical as the nesting period approaches. We shall 

 not be able to observe them to any extent at this season 

 in the towns and door-yards, for they become less familiar 

 and retire somewhat from human surroundings at the 

 mating and nesting time. Then they rove less through 

 the woods, and seek a place which they can call home for 

 a few weeks, dropping their companions of the full and 

 winter, who likewise become more staid and settled in their 

 ways. They generally have a song for every occasion, 

 and chatter and call wherever they go; but at the close 

 of winter the males begin a louder, clearer, sweeter call, 

 which gives new life to the woods. This song is composed 

 of the syllables "pe-to," repeated indefinitely, and vari- 

 ously modulated by different individuals. Colonel Goss 

 translates the song by suggesting the syllables "che'o, 

 che'o, che'o," as used at times. The mating period devel- 

 ops considerable jealousy and rivalry among the males, 

 for they will permit no rivals to cast affectionate glances 

 at the ladies of their choice, and their activity in attending 

 them and looking out for any demonstrations of rival 

 suitors is very noticeable. Colonel Goss says that " while 

 their mates are building a nest they do not aid, but 

 proudly follow her back and forth, singing their very best 

 to cheer her, and in so doing betray their nesting place 

 and make it an easy find." 



The nest of the tufted titmouse is made in a cavity in a 

 tree, trunk, stump, or log, either high or low indiscrimi- 

 nately. A natural opening in a knot-hole, or the deserted 

 home of a woodpecker, is preferred, though the titmouse 

 does not hesitate to make excavations for itself in decay- 



