THE CHICKADEE. 273 



suninier in mir niDUiUains and in British C'uluniljia, are enjoying sunsliine in 

 Mexico, this Alaskan coast dweller is re-d_\-eing his iiluniage nnder the dull 

 skies of the Pacific watershed. 



The Sitkan Kinglet is not ahundant in winter, alt ho it enjoys a general 

 distribution. It does not associate in flocks of its own kind to any large extent, 

 but oftener two or three indi\'iduals join theniselvcs to winter bird troops 

 consisting of Chickadees, Seattle Wrens, Western Golden-crowned Kinglets, 

 Puget Sound Bush-Tits, etc. At such times it is noticeable that they keep 

 largely to the lower levels, for they hunt and titter among the spiraea thickets, 

 salal bushes, logs and evergreen saplings, while their cousins only occasionally 

 venture within five or ten feet of the ground, and range from there to the 

 to])s of the tallest firs. 



The notes, too, of the Sitkan Kinglet are low-])itched and ex])losi\-e. as 

 comi)ared with the fairy sibilations of the Goklen-crowns. The neighborhood 

 of "Seattle" Wrens and Western \Vinter Wrens will serve also to throw a 

 certain wren-like (Hirditv of the .Maskan's note into fine relief. 



No. 106. 



CHICKADEE. 



.•\. O. U. No. 735. Penthestes atricapillus (Linn.). 



Synonyms. — P>i,.\CK-r.U'i>i:n CiiiCKAni:i-:. Black-c.mtkd TrrMousE. 



Description. — .Idiilt: Top of head and nape shining black; throat dead 

 black with whitish skirting posteriorly ; a white band on side of head and neck, 

 increasing in width behind : back and scapulars gray with an olivaceous cast and 

 more or less admixture of buffy at the edges and as skirting; wings and tail dusky, 

 more or less edged, especially on greater coverts and tertials, with ashy or whitish ; 

 breast and lielly white; sides, flanks and crissum washed with buft'y or light rusty 

 (nearly whitish in summer) ; bill and feet dark. Rather variable in size; one adult 

 specimen mea.sures: wing 2.27 (57.7) ; tail 2.10 (53.3) ; bill .34 (8.6). Anotlier: 

 wing 2.70 (68.6) ; tail 2.57 ("65.3) ; bill .38 (9.7). Length, 4.75-5.75 ( 120.6-146.1) ; 

 average of eight specimens of medium size: wing 2.60 (66) ; tail 2.44 (62) ; bill 

 .36 (9.1). 



Recognition Marks. — Warbler size; of lighter coloratfhn but not certainly 

 distinguishable alield from P. a. occidentalis (q. v.). 



Nesting. — Nest: a heavy mat of moss, grasses, and plant-down, lined with 

 rabbits' fur, wool, hair, or feathers, in made hole or natural cavity of stump or 

 tree, usually not over ten feet from the ground, and near water. Eggs: 5-8, 

 white, marked sparingly with reddish Jirown. in small s])ots, tending to gather 

 about larger end. Av. size. .58 x .47 (14.7 x i i.fi 1. Sr>isou- \\w\\ 15-May 15; 

 one brood. 



