BIBDS OF INDIANA. 1135 



however, since 1890, Mr. Dearie has met with them a number of 

 times at almost all seasons, and it would seem to be resident. In 1887, 

 Mrs. Jane L. Hine informed me it was very rare in Dekalb County, 

 and had only been observed in autumn. They continued so until the 

 winter of 1890-91, when they began to increase. . Some winters they 

 remained and others they disappeared. It is now tolerably common 

 there, and breeds. It also breeds in Elkhart County, where a nest 

 was taken, June 12, 1891, containing seven young birds (McBride, 

 Proc. I. A. S., 1891, p. 167). It was very common near Peru in Oc- 

 tober, 1893, where it is probably a resident (Dunn). Mr. Elwood 

 Pleas informs me that it is a tolerably common resident at Dunreith, 



Head of Tufted Titmouse. Natural size. 



Henry County. April 14, 1894, he found one impaled on a thorn 

 evidently the work of a Shrike. It is also a rather abundant resident 

 at Eichmond, where it breeds (Dr. E. Test, A. M. Hadley). Mr. G. 

 G-. Williamson reports it from Muncie, November 22, 1896. Mr. V. 

 H. Barnett says it is common and breeds in Vermillion and Warren 

 counties. Dr. A. W. Brayton, of Indianapolis, has a beautiful albino 

 of this species. 



The Tufted Titmouse frequents all kinds of woodland. In summer, 

 it prefers the quiet of the denser forest or of the trees along the river 

 bottoms. In winter they go wherever their companions go, or, rather, 

 they lead the company where they will. Through woods, thickets, 

 tangled ravines, along the old worm fence, into the orchard, then 

 among the garden shrubbery. Their loud whistle sounds peto, peto, 

 peto, peto, and when one comes upon them to see what is the matter, 

 the Downy Woodpecker calls quit, quit. This Titmouse utters de-de- 

 de-de, and thus reminds one by his call of his relationship to the Chick- 

 adees. The warm, sugar-making days of early spring, they proclaim 



