Dusky, Gray, and Slate-colored 



from the orchard between his aerial sallies after the passing insects 

 that have been attracted by the decaying fruit, and chebec is the 

 name by which many New Englanders know him. 



While giving this characteristic call-note, with drooping, 

 jerking tail, trembling wings, and uplifted parti-colored bill, he 

 looks unnerved and limp by the effort it has cost him. But in 

 the next instant a gnat flies past. How quickly the bird recovers 

 itself and charges full-tilt at his passing dinner! The sharp click 

 of his little bill proves that he has not missed his aim ; and after 

 careering about in the air another minute or two, looking for 

 more game to snap up on the wing, he will return to the same 

 perch and take up his familiar refrain. Without hearing this call- 

 note one might often mistake the bird for either the wood pewee 

 or the phcEbe, for all the three are similarly clothed and have 

 many traits in common. The slightly larger size of the phoebe 

 and pewee is not always apparent when they are seen perching 

 on the trees. Unlike the "tuft of hay" to which the Acadian 

 flycatcher's nest has been likened, the least flycatcher's home is 

 a neat, substantial cup-shaped cradle softly lined with down or 

 horsehair, and placed generally in an upright crotch of a tree, well 

 above the ground. 



The Chickadee 



(Parus atricapilliis) Titmouse family 



Called also: BLACK-CAPPED TITMOUSE; BLACK-CAP TIT 



Length — 5 to 5.5 inches. About an inch smaller than the English 

 sparrow. 



Male and Female— "Hot crested. Crown and nape and throat 

 black. Above gray, slightly tinged with brown. A white 

 space, beginning at base of bill, extends backwards, widen- 

 ing over cheeks and upper part of breast, forming a sort of 

 collar that almost surrounds neck. Underneath dirty white, 

 with pale rusty-brown wash on sides. Wings and tail gray, 

 with white edgings. Plumage downy. 



Range — Eastern North America. North of the Carolinas to Lab- 

 rador. Does not migrate in the North. 



Migrations — Late September. May. Winter resident ; perma- 

 nent resident in northern parts of the United States. 



No "fair weather friend " is the jolly little chickadee. In the 

 depth of the autumn equinoctial storm it returns to the tops of 



76 



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