CAROLINA CHICKADEE 47 



feather or fur to make the cosy nest still softer. 

 Collectors have been deceived by this, and supposing 

 the nest unfinished have visited it later for the eggs 

 to find it full of young birds. Six vv^hite speckled 

 eggs are laid. 



Carolina Chickadee: Pants carolinensis. 



Length about 4J^ inches. 



Top of head and throat glossy black; cheeks pure white; 

 the rest of the body ashy-gray, under parts lighter. 

 Resident (common) all the year. 



The Chickadee is a fluffy, restless mite of a bird, 

 very common, especially in winter, but he is oftener 

 heard than seen. His loud whistling song is written, 

 zvhccdlc-lcc, whccdle-lay, and he also calls dcc-dce-dcc, 

 rather softly as he flits about the trees, searching in 

 the crevices of bark for insects and their eggs. He 

 is shy and retiring in the nesting season, but at other 

 times he is very friendly, and will even come about 

 a country house, picking up seeds and bread-crumbs 

 thrown out to him. 



He builds in holes, either remodelling a Wood- 

 pecker's hole, or digging one out for himself in rather 

 soft dead wood. His bill is arched and strong, and 

 he likes a deep nest, so he works away — with the 

 help of his mate — until the hole is from six to twelve 

 inches deep. Although the entrance is small, the 

 nest is roomy at the bottom, and the soft lining is of 

 moss, feathers, hair and wool — sometimes a bit of 

 squirrel or rabbit fur. The eggs, 6 to 8, are white, 

 spotted with brown. 



