AVES. 339 



known to almost every child, and shows as much confidence in man bv 

 associating with him in summer, as the other by his familiarity in winter. 

 He is also of a mild and peaceful disposition, seldom fighting or quarrelling 

 with other birds. 



" Towards fall, that is in the month of October, his song changes to a 

 single plaintive note as he passes over the yellow many-colored woods, and 

 its melancholy air recalls to our minds the approaching decay of the face 

 of nature. Even after the trees are stripped of their leaves, he still lingers 

 over his native fields as if loth to leave them. 



" Indeed he appears scarcely ever totally to forsake us, but to follow fair 

 weather through all its journeyings till the return of spring." 



There are two other species of blue birds, one of which is found in 

 California and other countries of Western America, and the other in the 

 countries of North-western America. They both bear a general resem- 

 blance to Sialia wilsoni. 



About one hundred birds belong to this sub-family, which inhabit all 

 parts of the world, and are generally pretty and cheerful little birds, more 

 or less similar to the American blue-bird and the European robin. 



Sub-fam. 4. Accejitorince, or Hedge Warblers. Bill short, straight, 

 sometimes conical, sides compressed towards the tip ; wings more or less 

 long, pointed, sometimes rounded ; tail moderate ; tarsi and feet rather 

 long, claws strong. 



The most familiar of these birds are the hedge sparrow [Accentor 

 modularis) and the Alpine warbler {A. alpinus), both common European 

 birds. 



Other birds of this sub-famil)^ are found in all parts of the w^orld, but are 

 most numerous in Australia. The species of this continent constitute the 

 genus Acanthiza, and are represented as usually observed in the lower 

 branches of trees, in the bushes, and on the ground, and possessing 

 generally the characters and general history of insect-eating birds. 



Sub-fam. 5. ParincB. or Tits. Bills rather short, strong, sometimes 

 conical and straight ; wings moderate or short ; tail generally long, 

 rounded ; tarsi and feet rather long. Size small. 



A sub-family of birds universally known as tits or titmice, and found all 

 over the world. 



The most common American species is the crested tit (Parus hicolor), 

 which is a constant resident in all parts of the United States, and distin- 

 guished for the promptness with which he pipes out his few but musical 

 notes on the very first days of fine weather in spring. Notwithstanding 

 his plain plumage he is an exceedingly graceful and in fact elegant little 

 bird, and very quick and rather eccentric in his actions. 



Several other species of crested tits have been discovered within the 

 limits of the United States. The plain tit {P. inornatus) was discovered 

 by Dr. Gambel in the Rocky Mountains ; two others, the black-crested tit 

 {P. atricristatus) and the Texan tit {P. annexus), were discovered by Mr. 

 John Audubon (son of the celebrated ornithologist) in Texas. 



The black-capped tits (not crested) seem to form a distinct genus. The 



543 



