214 BLACK-CAPPED TITMOUSE. 



continue to associate together during winter. They traverse the woods 

 in regular progression from tree to tree, tumbling, chattering and hang- 

 ing from the extremities of the branches, examining about the roots of 

 the leaves, buds, and crevices of the bark for insects and their larvae. 

 They also frequently visit the orchards, particularly in fall, the sides 

 of the barn and barn-yard in the same pursuit, trees in such situations 

 being generally much infested with insects. We therefore with pleasure 

 rank this little bird among the farmer's friends, and trust our rural citi- 

 zens will always recognise him as such. 



This species has a very extensive range ; it has been found on the 

 western coast of America, as far north as lat. 62° ; it is common at 

 Hudson's Bay, and most plentiful there during winter, as it then ap- 

 proaches the settlements in quest of food. Protected by a remarkably 

 thick covering of long soft downy plumage, it braves the severest cold 

 of those northern regions. 



The Black-capped Titmouse is five inches and a half in length, and 

 six and a half in extent ; throat and whole upper part of the head and 

 ridge of the neck black ; between these lines a triangular patch of white 

 ending at the nostril ; bill black and short, tongue truncate ; rest of the 

 upper parts lead colored or cinereous, slightly tinged with bi-own, wings 

 edged with white ; breast, belly and vent yellowish white ; legs light 

 blue ; eyes dark hazel. The male and female are nearly alike. The 

 figure in the plate renders any further description unnecessary. 



The upper parts of the head of the young are for some time of a dirty 

 brownish tinge ; and in this state they agree so exactly with the Parui 

 Hudsonicus,* described by Latham, as to afford good grounds for sus- 

 pecting them to be the same. 



These birds sometimes fight violently with each other, and are known 

 to attack young and sickly birds that are incapable of resistance, 

 always directing their blows against the skull. Being in the woods one 

 day, I followed a bird for some time, the singularity of whose notes 

 surprised me. Having shot him from ofi' the top of a very tall tree, I 

 found it to be the Black-headed Titmouse, with a long and deep inden- 

 tation in the cranium, the skull having been evidently at some former 

 time driven in, and fractured, but was now perfectly healed. Whether 

 or not the change of voice could be owing to this circumstance I cannot 

 pretend to decide. 



* Hudson Bay Titmouse, Synopsis, II., 557. 



