62 LAND-BIRDS AND GAME-BIRDS 
stood upon the top of a corner-pillar, adjoining the house, 
and, having stared at me for a moment, tucked his head under 
his wing,’® and apparently leaned against the wall. I think 
that he went to sleep almost immediately, for, on my stepping 
from the piazza, he started (as if from sleep) and turned to 
look at me; but he soon composed himself once more to his 
slumbers.” ‘Feb. 12th, 1875. I found my friend, the Chick- 
adee, fast asleep to-day at 5.35 p. mM.” ‘Feb. 18th. I have 
continued to find the Chickadee retiring to rest in the nest on 
the piazza. Another retires as regularly at sunset, and sleeps 
in a hole of a white birch, evidently once a Chickadee’s nest, 
perhaps his own.” “March 13th. At five minutes after six 
this morning a Chickadee suddenly uttered his ‘ chick-a-dee-dee- 
dee’ from a pine, and then for five minutes repeated his whistle 
of pe-wee. Two companions then came, and the small flock, 
thus formed, moved off.” 
In spring the Titmice gradually disperse, many to seek more 
northern homes, and some, after mating, to prepare homes for 
their offspring here. In summer they are shyer than in win- 
ter and often retire to secluded spots to rear their young, for 
whom they exhibit a tender affection, which sometimes prompts 
them, if robbed of their eggs, to follow boldly the intruder, 
uttering plaintive cries and whistles, which almost force one 
to repent of having disturbed the peace of such loving parents. 
In autumn, when family-cares are over, the Chickadees gather 
in companies and resume a merry life. 
(d). They have a great variety of simple or quaint notes, 
all of which seem to be expressive of perpetual happiness, for 
many of them are constantly repeated throughout the year, 
and none are restricted to one season. Besides their well- 
known chant ‘‘chick-a-dee-dee-dee-dee,” which has given them 
their name, they have an exquisite whistle of two notes (nearly 
represented by high G and F, upon the piano), which is very 
15T have here emphasized this fact, because I have lately read, where I do not 
now remember, that it was ‘‘a ridiculous supposition that wild birds ever put 
their bills under their wings when sleeping.” ! 
