84 



PARID^ : TITMICE. 



A common resident bird of New England, breeding 

 throughout the country, but in Massachusetts, Con- 

 necticut, and Rhode Island less abundant in summer 

 than in winter. It appears to be practically limited 

 in northward extension by the Canadian Fauna, being 

 replaced beyond by the Hudsonian Chickadee. The 

 general traits and habits of these very familiar birds are 

 too well known to require notice here. They breed in 



holes in trees, stumps, or 

 posts, often taking posses- 

 sion of a deserted wood- 

 pecker's home, or excavat- 

 ing one for themselves with 

 great pains and diligence. 

 The nest is constructed 

 of various soft vegetable 

 and animal substances, as 

 grasses, moss, hair, wool, 

 and feathers. Eggs are 

 laid to the number of 6 or 

 8, or even lo, usually the 

 middle or latter part of 

 May, and sometimes again 

 the last of June or early in 

 July. These are white, 

 finely speckled, especially 

 about the larger end, with 

 small pale reddish points and dots ; they measure 

 from o.6o to 0.68 in length by 0.49 to 0.54 in breadth. 

 The usual breeding resorts are thick woods, where the 

 little creatures are to some extent screened from casual 

 observation, though they appear at all times to be very 

 confiding and unsuspicious, heedless of the near ap- 

 proach of man. / 



Fig. 18. — Black-capped Chickadee. 



