PERCHING BIRDS. 



out an insect's egg from the bark. The same type of tail feather is 

 shown by Woodpeckers, an excellent illustration of similar structure 

 accompanying similar habits in birds not at all closely related. 



The Nuthatches and Titmice, (Family Paridce], like the Wrens and 

 Thrashers, belong in two well marked Subfamilies; The Nuthatches, 

 (Subfamily Sittin<z} number about twenty species, only four of which 

 inhabit America; the Titmice, (Subfamily Parintz) number some seven- 

 ty-five species, of which thirteen are American. 



Nuthatches are tree-creepers, but climbing up or down with equal 

 ease, their tail is not employed as a prop, and consequently shows no 

 special development of pointed or stiffened feathers. Their toes, 

 however, are long, and their nails large and strong, evidently giving 

 them a firm grip on the bark of trees. 



The Chickadees are generally resident birds and, as a rule, whatever 

 species we find in a given locality are apt to be there throughout the 

 year. We therefore become better acquainted with some of these 

 birds than with others which are with us only a short season. This is 

 especially true of our eastern Black-capped Chickadee, which comes 

 familiarly about our homes in winter to partake of the feast of nuts and 

 suet which we spread for him at that season. 



Feeding largely on the eggs or larvae of insects particularly injurious 

 to trees, the Nuthatches and Titmice are of great value to man. 



The Kinglets, Gnatcatchers, and Old World Warblers, (Family Syl- 

 viida) number about one hundred and twenty-five species, which are 

 divided among the following well-defined subfamilies: The Kinglets, 

 (Subfamily Rtguliiue) seven species, three of which are American; the 

 Gnatcatchers, (Subfamily Polioptilincz) some fifteen species, all Amer- 

 can; the Old World Warblers, (Subfamily SylviintB} about one hundred 

 species, all Old World except one which inhabits the Bering Sea coast 

 of Alaska. 



The Kinglets are small, olive green birds which may be mistaken for 

 Warblers but, aside from structural differences not evident in the field, 

 they may be known by their smaller size, greater tameness, and habit 

 of nervously flitting their wings at frequent intervals. One of our 

 species, the Ruby -crown, possesses a remarkably loud, clear, and musi- 

 cal cong, a surprising performance for so tiny a songster. Kinglets 

 build large nests of moss and feathers and lay as many as ten eggs. 



The Gnatcatchers are small, slender, grayish birds which once well 

 seen will not be confused with other species. The Gnatcatchers, like 

 the Kinglets, are architects of more than usual ability, building a nest 

 beautifully covered with lichens. 



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