246 THE CHICKADEE. 
Chickadee’s good cheer is partly explained by the fact that he has a 
very warm coat—he looks like a little muff himself—and by the fact that 
the sort of food he likes is reasonably plentiful in winter. The bird eats 
insects at all times of year, but his staple diet is formed by the eggs and larve 
of insects. These are found tucked away in the crevices of bark, or grouped 
on the under surface of the smaller limbs and persistent leaves. On this ac- 
count the Black-cap must frequently hang head downward, and this he does 
very gracefully, using his tail to balance himself with, much as a boy does his 
Taken near Columbus. Photo by the Author. 
“a CLINGING SNOW COMES AND BURIES THE NORTHERN HALF OF HIS HUNTING-GROUND,”’ 
legs in hanging from a “turning pole,’ swinging to and fro as if he thor- 
oughly enjoyed it. Once in a while a clinging snow comes and buries the 
northern half of his hunting-ground. ‘Then is the time to hang out a lump 
of suet, or to scatter bits of meat—unless your bounties are always claimed 
by the English sparrow. 
Besides the frequent repetition of its name, Chickadee, the bird has a 
brusque tse-day, tse-day of uncertain meaning, and a day, day, day, day of 
discomposure and indignation. ‘The birds of a flock intent on feeding keep 
