7'HE HUDSONIAN CHICKADEE. 53 



the rough treatment of this occasion, she would invariably leave the 

 nest at my approach, doubtless hearing my footsteps, as she could not * 

 possibly see me. Some days after this, I found a pair of these birds 

 building in a low stump which stood in a meadow, but I did not remain 

 in the neighborhood long enough to learn the number of eggs or test 

 the coin-age of the female while incubating. 



33. THE HUDSONIAN CHICKADEE. 

 PARUS IIUDSONICUS Forster. 



These little fellows are northeasterji birds, rare as far south 

 as Massachusetts. Their characteristics are much the same as 

 those of the black-cap, and they are quite as self-sacriHcing 

 and intrepid in defending their homes. They breed from cen- 

 tral Mai.ie northward, nesting early in June. Audubon de- 

 scribes a nest which he found in Labrador: — 



The nest was placed at the height of not more than three feet from 

 the ground, in the hollow of a decayed low stump scarcely thicker than 

 a man's leg; the whole so rotten that it tumbled to pieces on being 

 touched. 1 cautiously removed the woody enclosure, and took posses- 

 sion of the nest, which I obtained in perfect order. It was shaped like 

 a puise. S inches in depth, 2 inches in diaineter inside; its sides about 

 half an inch thick. It was entirely composed of the finest fur of differ- 

 ciU quadrupeds, but principally of the great northern hare, so thickly 

 and ingeniously matted throughout that it looked as if it had been 

 • felted ' by the hand of man. 



A nest examined by Dr. Brewer, near Halifax, N.S., had 

 been cut through the living wood of a beech tree, not more 

 than two feet from the ground. The excavation was horizon- 

 tal for about two inches in, then turned abruptly downward, 

 widened from one and one-half to three inches, became seven 

 or eight inches deep, and was lined with feathers and fur. 



The eggs of this species measure .56 by .47, are of a round- 

 ed oval shape, and somewhat sparingly marked, on a white 

 ground, with a few reddish-brown spots, usually grouped in a 

 rinsr around the larger end. 



