CHICKADEE. gQ, 



OBSERVATIONS. 



Known at once by the reddish unrler parts. Occurs during the breeding season throughout northern 

 temperate North America, Northern New England, northward, wintering in the middle districts. 



DIMENSIONS. 

 Length, from 4.80 to 4.75 ; stretch, 8.40 to 8.50; wing, 2.55 to 2.75 ; 

 tail, 1.35 to 1.50; bill, .54 to .GO; tarsus, .GO to .75. 



DESCRIPTION OF NESTS AND EGGS. 

 Nests, placed in holes of trees excavated by the birds, composed of 

 roots, strips of bark, etc. Eggs, usually five or six in number, rarely 

 four, seven or eight, rounded oval in form, grayish white in color, spot- 

 ted rather thickly with reddish, and the spots are inclined to become con- 

 Fig. HI. Head of adult fluent on the larger end. Dimensions, .00 by .50 to .05 by .55. 

 Red-bellied Nuthatch. 



HABITS. 



The Red-bellied is rather more inclined to inhabit the woodlands' than is the White- 

 bellied, and like that species occurs in small tlocks dinging the season of mi'n-ation yet the 

 two species rarely associate together. I found them common at Erroll, New Hampshire in 

 November, 1870, but thej soon disappeared, departing southward. I think that the ma- 

 jority of the Red-bellied Nuthatches pass the winter in the middle State.s, certainly but 

 few remain at that season in Massachusetts. In general the habit of this species resembles 

 the White-bellied, but its note is perfectly distinguishable being rather sharper than that 

 given by the allied species, but this garrulous utterance is changed durino- the breedin"- sea- 

 son for one which is more deliberately given. I have never seen a nest of this nuthatch 

 but the male is said to cover the the wood at the entrance of the nestim>- hole with soft 

 pitch from pines, so tliickly that the female looses some feathers every time she enters 

 her domicile or leaves it. 



FAMILY. PARIDAE. THE TITMICE. 



Bill, short and conical, not notched nor curved at the tip. Tongue, short, terminating abruptly ; with the 

 end furnished with four distinct tufts of cilia. The webs of the feathers are somewhat scattering giving 

 them a loose fluify appearance. 



The sternums of this family are scarcely different from those of the preceding. The tongues are the 

 most remarkable of any which I have seen, on account of the singular terminations. The tufts are composed 

 of several rather coarse cilia and situated at regular intervals with the three intermediate spaces entirely 

 free from any projections ; there are two in the center and one at each margin. Sexes, similar. 



GENUS. PARUS. THE BLACK-HEADED TITMICE. 

 Gen. Cii. Sternum, very broad ; exceeding in breadth one-half of the length of the top of the keel. 

 Head, not crested. All the members of this genus have dark heads and throats. They generally inhabit 

 the woods, and build their nests in boles. 



PARUS ATRICAPILLUS. 

 Chickadee. 



Parus atricapillus Linn., Syst. Nat. 1, 1700, 341. 



DESCRIPTION. 

 Sp. Ch. Form, rather stout. Bill, small. Tail, rounded. Tongue, but slightly narrower terminally 

 .than in the middle. The two central tufts of cilia are but slightly longer than the outer ones. Sternum. 



