THE CANADIAN NATURALIST. 



and is now tumbling and twisting around the branches, and 

 chirping as gleefully as if it were " the glorious summer 

 time." 



F. It is emphatically a winter bird ; or at least it is 

 then more seen : during the whole year we may find it, if 

 we go into the dark and sombre recesses of the cedar swamps, 

 but as winter approaches, it comes out to the edges of the 

 woods and road-sides. What the cause of this visit to the 

 clearings may be, I know not ; I should think it would be 

 more protected from the inclemency of the winter's storms 

 in the woods, and it does not appear that food is its object, 

 as this seems to be confined to the trees ; on which, indeed, it 

 always seeks it, for I do not remember ever having seen a 

 Titmouse on the ground. 



C. Its food, I suppose, consists of the numberless mi- 

 nute insects which are concealed during winter in the crevices 

 of the bark, and among the twigs of the trees, with seeds of 

 evergreens occasionally, though from its bill it is evidently, 

 insectivorous. 



F. We may form some idea of its success by examining 

 carefully some old tree. Let us look among the curled and 

 ragged bark of this old birch. Here are two Ichneumonidce 

 to begin with ; three minute Chrysomelina, an Elater, two 

 species of Carabus, a pupa of a small moth, three or four 

 flies, and several spiders. No bad meal for a little bird ; 

 and as he is a most restless little fellow, all day long engaged 

 in the search, with the twofold advantage of instinct and 

 experience, no doubt he fares well. 



C. Its song, without being very musical, is cheerful ; 

 and there is considerable variety in the two or three notes 

 which compose it. 



F. In spring, it is fond of a chirp which much resem- 

 bles the words "sweet weather." I recollect a rather 

 laughable incident connected with this note. In Newfound- 



