164 



USEFUL BIRDS. 



suinnier. It nests in April or May, and sometimes rears 

 two broods in a season. The ordinary clieerj^ chattering 

 call, from Avhich the bird derives its name, is often varied in 

 the milder weather of winter and toward spring by its so- 

 called "^ phoebe " note, a 

 musical, whistling call, 

 which by the children 

 is sometimes translated 

 ' Spring's come." Now 



Fig. 49. — Chickadee, one-half 

 natural size. 



and then some peculiarly 

 fted male essays a jumble 

 ghtly musical notes, which 

 be an attempt to express 

 the unconquerable cheerfulness of 

 its nature ; but the Chickadee's at- 

 tempts at song never give very brilliant results. Neverthe- 

 less, the little bird is so happy, companionable, and confiding 

 that in New Eno-land it is one of the most beloved of the 

 feathered race. While, for a bird, it exhibits remarkable 

 intelligence in many ways, it seems to confide in man to an 

 unusual degree. It is an easy mark for the small boy Avith 

 his air gun, and numljers of these birds fall victims to their 

 misplaced confidence in human nature. 



Chickadees sometimes go to the camps of ^voodchoppers, 

 in hard winters, and learn to take food from the hand. One 

 day Avhile I was sitting on the ground in the woods a Chick- 

 adee alighted on a branch about two feet away and looked 

 up in my face ; and they have often hovered within a few 

 inches of my head, as if about to alight there. Occasionally 

 one may be readily taught to feed from the hand. Minot 

 says that they are so merry, genial, and sociable that their 

 company is sought by other birds, such as Creepers, Nut- 

 hatches, Kinglets, and Woodpeckers, whose habits are like 

 their own. This has been observed by every ornithologist, 

 but no one seems to have mentioned the fact that many birds 

 other than those given above seek the company of the Chick- 

 adee for a different reason. Every fall the Warblers, on their 

 way south, stop for a time in favorable localities, and accom- 

 pany the small roving bands of Chickadees. At this season 



