664 HUDSONIAN CHICKADEE. 



HABITS. 

 I have always found the Carolina Chickadee ommon whunover I have been in the 

 Southern States from the Carolinas south to Northern Florida on the east side, and as far 

 as Tampa on the west coast. In general halait they are almost exactly like the Chickadee, 

 o'oino- about in small flocks in a nervous, active manner, but the note is at once dis- 

 tiniiuishable. It is weaker than that of the chickadee with a, decided husky intonation. 

 In spring the Carohna Chickadee gives a warbling song much like that of its northern rel- 

 ative. The breeding habits are also similar. 



PARUS HUDSONICUS. 



Hudsonian Chickadee. 



Plate XXXIX. Adult. 



DESCRIPTION. 



Sp, Ch. Size, medium. Form, robust. Color. Adult. Above, reddish slate becoming slightl_y 

 more rufous on the rump. Wings and tail, brown edged with slaty. Sides nf neck. ashy. Chin and throat, 

 black. Cheek and lower parts, soiled white with tlie sides and flanks dull chestnut. Iris, brown, bill, black, 

 feet, bluish. 



OBSERVATIONS. 



Known at once by the abscence of the black on the top of the head and dull chestnut on the sides and 

 flanks. Occurs as a constant resident throughout Northern New England and British America, migrating 

 somewhat southward in winter. 



DIMENSIONS. 



Length, from 5.50 to 5.75: stretch, from 8..50 to O'OO; wing, from l2.50 to 2.75; tail, 2 25 to 2.50; bill, 

 .30 to .35 ; tarsus, .50 to .55. 



DESCRIPTION OF NESTS AND EGGS. 



Nests, placed in holes of trees composed of hair, feathers etc. Egos, from si.K to ten in number, varying 

 from oval to spherical in form, white in color, spotted and dotted with reddish brown. Dimensions from .G'~> 

 by .50 to .66 by .55. 



HABITS. 



I found the Hudsonian Chickadee quite common and associating in flocks witii tlie 

 common chickadee in the heavily wooded mountain valle\s of Erroll, New Hampshire, 

 during the latter part of October, 1868. The habits are not all dissimilar to those of the 

 Common Chickadee but the notes are decidedly harsher and are rather more quickly given. 



During winter there is a migration southward and of late \enrs the birds haw not 

 been of unfrequent occurence in Massachusetts, while some have been takt'n as far south 

 as Southern Comiecticnt. 



GENUS. LOPHOPHANES. THE CRESTED TITMICE. 



Gen. Cii. Sternum, not broad, being narrower than one-half of the length of the top of the keel. The 

 marginal indentati;ins are also proportionately shallower than in Parus. Head, crested. Members of this 

 genus may be readily distinguished by the prominent crest and narrow sternum. 



