PASSERES — OSCINES — PARID^E. 37 



and especially cedar patches. It comes into fall song and feather before 

 it leaves in the spring. The vernal migration always includes a num- 

 ber of individuals of both sexes without the ruby crown. [33] 



12. (51) .Regulus satrapa Licht. Golden-crested Kinglet. 



A winter resident, abundant from October 1 to the latter part of 

 April; does not breed here. It is a familiar and heedless little bird, 

 whose general habits are much the same as those of the Ruby-crown. 

 It is generally distributed, but thick pine woods are a favorite re- 

 sort. [34] 

 Subfamily POLIOPTILLNiE : Gnatcatchers. 



13. (110.) Polioptila coerulea (Linn.) Scl. Blue-gray Gnatcatciier. 



A summer resident; still common, but less so than formerly. We 

 used to see it in tall trees anywhere about the skirts of the city, but it 

 appears to have retired to the surrounding woodland, where it breeds 

 sometimes at great heights. It is an early arrival, visually by the first 

 week in April, before the trees are fairly out, and remains until the lat- 

 ter part of September. It is one of the most restless of birds, almost 

 incessantly in motion, and in spring continually uttering its thin, shrill 

 notes as it darts about the tree- tops. [36] 



Family PARIDyE : Titmice. 



14. (111.) Lophophanes bicolor (Linn.) Bp. Tufted Titmouse. 



A permanent resident, and extremely abundant, especially in the fall, 

 when individuals which have bred farther north are here for the winter 

 or passing south. In this and many other cases of birds which appear 

 to be sedentary, from the fact that they are always to be found, it is 

 not to be presumed that they are represented by the same individuals 

 all the year round. Almost all birds of the northern hemisphere are 

 migratory, and therefore only "permanently resident" in those locali- 

 ties which are within the limits of their migration both ways. The Tufted 

 Titmouse is found in all localities in the District, occasionally within 

 city limits. It is generally seen in small flocks or mixed company, and 

 nests in holes of trees, stumps, and fences, laying numorons white 

 speckled eggs. It is a noisy, petulent, and heedless little bird, possess- 

 ing also much courage in self-defense, or in protecting its nest. [40] 



15. (112.) Parus atricapillus Linn. Black-capped Titmouse; Common Chick- 



adee. 



In the original edition, we gave this species as a winter resident, and 

 correctly so, though the name has recently been expunged from the list 

 by Mr. Jouy (Cat. B. of D. C, 1877). Mr. R. Ridgway distinguishes it 

 specifically from P. carolinensis, and he informs us, as we presume he did 

 Mr. Jouy, that all our Tits are of the latter species. But, aside from 

 auy question of specific distinction, it seems that Tits from Baltimore 

 are admitted to be P. atricapillus, and it is unlikely that forty miles 



