PARIDxE— THE TITMICE. 89 



dreariest solitudes of the Southern States these birds were his constant and 

 amusing companions. Their sprightly movements and their varied musical 

 talents made it even more peculiarly interesting at a time when all the other 

 tenants of the forest were silent. The notes of this bird, which, when ex- 

 pressed hy this writer on paper, seem only i[uaint and eccentric articulations, 

 were characterized by him as lively, cheering, and varied, delivered with a 

 delicacy, energy, pathos, and variety of expression to which it was far beyond 

 the power of description to do justice. 



These notes, at times, even partook of the high-eclioiug and clear tones 

 of the Oriole. The usual song of this Titmouse is presented by Mr. Xuttall 

 by the following characteristics: " Whip-tom-liUy-killy-ddy-day-dd-it-tshica- 

 dee-dee" varied with " Kdi-tee-d id-did -did," etc., etc. Later in the season, 

 under the milder intiuences of spring, these Titmice pui-sued the insects from 

 branch to branch, calling restlessly ami with loud and echoing voices, peto- 

 peto-peto, with frequent quaint variations too numerous to be repeated. 

 Their song even consisted of successions of playful, pathetic, or querulous 

 calls, never exhibiting any trills after the manner of the Warblers, yet the 

 compass and tones of their voice, their capricious variety, and their general 

 efleet are described as quite as pleasing as the more exquisite notes of our 

 sunnner songsters. 



When wounded this Titmouse resists with great spirit any attempt to take 

 him alive, but soon becomes tame and familiar in continement, subsisting on 

 seeds, broken nuts, etc. Impatient of restraint, it incessantly attempts to 

 work its way out of its cage. 



The general habits of these birds correspond closely with those of the large 

 family to which tliey belong. They move usually in small tlocks of from 

 five to ten through the branches of trees and bushes in quest of insects, 

 examine the cracks and crevices of the bark, hang on the under side of small 

 brandies, move sideways around the trunks of trees, probe the openings in 

 acorns, pine-cones, nuts, etc., for its food, and retain apparently the family 

 group until the spring, when they separate into paii-s. 



One of these birds kept in continement by Dr. Bachman of Charleston 

 was in the habit of hiding its food in the corner of its caf>e, in a smaU 

 crevice, and of creeping at niglit into a small box, where it lay doubled up 

 like a ball till the lirst light of the morning, when it resumed its restless 

 habits. 



The Tufted Titmouse passes its nights and days, when the weather is in- 

 clement, in the hollows of decayed trees or the deserted holes of the wood- 

 peckers. In such places it also builds its nests. It has been known to exca- 

 vate a hole for itself even in hard sound wood. Its nest is simply a rude 

 lining of the selected cavity, composed o( various soft and warm materials. 

 In this are deposited from six to eight eggs. But a single brood is raised in 

 a season. The young binls, as soon as they are Hedged, hunt in company 

 with their parents, and remain associated with them until the following 

 12 



