62 LAND-BIRDS AND GAME-BIRDS 



stood upon the top of a corner-pillar, adjoining the house, 

 and, having stared at me for a moment, tucked his head under 

 his wing, 15 and apparently leaned against the wall. I think 

 that he went to sleep almost immediately, for, on my stepping 

 from the piazza, he started (as if from sleep) and turned to 

 look at me ; but he soon composed himself once more to his 

 slumbers." "Feb. 12th, 1875. I found my friend, the Chick- 

 adee, fast asleep to-day at 5.35 p. M." "Feb. 18th. I have 

 continued to find the Chickadee retiring to rest in the nest on 

 the piazza. Another retires as regularly at sunset, and sleeps 

 in a hole of a white birch, evidently once a Chickadee's nest, 

 perhaps his own." "March 13th. At five minutes after six 

 this morning a Chickadee suddenly uttered his ' cliick-a-dee-dee- 

 dee* from a pine, and then for five minutes repeated his whistle 

 of pe-wee. Two companions then came, and the small flock, 

 thus formed, moved off." 



In spring the Titmice gradually disperse, many to seek more 

 northern homes, and some, after mating, to prepare homes for 

 their offspring here. In summer they are shyer than in win- 

 ter and often retire to secluded spots to rear their young, for 

 whom they exhibit a tender affection, which sometimes prompts 

 them, if robbed of their eggs, to follow boldly the intruder, 

 uttering plaintive cries and whistles, which almost force one 

 to repent of having disturbed the peace of such loving parents. 

 In autumn, when family-cares are over, the Chickadees gather 

 in companies and resume a merry life. 



(d). They have a great variety of simple or quaint notes, 

 all of which seem to be expressive of perpetual happiness, for 

 many of them are constantly repeated throughout the year, 

 and none are restricted to one season. Besides their well- 

 known chant " chick-a-dee-dee-dee-dee," which has given them 

 their name, they have an exquisite whistle of two notes (nearly 

 represented by high G- and F, upon the piano), which is very 



18 1 have here emphasized this fact, because I have lately read, where I do not 

 now* remember, that it was "a ridiculous supposition that wild birds ever put 

 their bills under their wings when sleeping. " I 



