402 BLACK-CAPT TITMOUSE. 



the family continue to associate together during winter. They 

 traverse the woods in regular progression from tree to tree, tum- 

 bling, chattering and hanging from the extremities of the 

 branches, examining about the roots of the leaves, buds, and 

 crevices of the bark for insects and their larvae. They also fre- 

 quently visit the orchards, particularly in fall, the sides of the 

 barn and barn-yard in the same pursuit, trees in such situations 

 being generally much infested with insects. We therefore with 

 pleasure rank this little bird among the farmer's friends, and 

 trust our rural citizens will always recognize him as such. 



This species has a very extensive range; it has been found on 

 the western coast of America, as far north as lat. 62; it is com- 

 mon at Hudson's bay, and most plentiful there during winter, 

 as it then approaches the settlements in quest of food. Protect- 

 ed by a remarkably thick covering of long soft downy plumage, 

 it braves the severest cold of those northern regions. 



The Black-capt Titmouse is five inches and a half in length, 

 and six and a half in extent; throat and whole upper part of the 

 head and ridge of the neck black; between these lines a trian- 

 gular patch of white ending at the nostril; bill black and short, 

 tongue truncate; rest of the upper parts lead coloured or cinere- 

 ous, slightly tinged with brown, wings edged with white; breast, 

 belly and vent yellowish white; legs light blue; eyes dark hazel. 

 The male and female are nearly alike. The figure in the plate 

 renders any further description unnecessary. 



The upper parts of the head of the young are for some time 

 of a dirty brownish tinge; and in this state they agree so exactly 

 with the Parus Hudsonicus* described by Latham, as to afford 

 good grounds for suspecting them to be the same. 



These birds sometimes fight violently with each other, and 

 are known to attack young and sickly birds that are incapable of 

 resistance, always directing their blows against the scull. Being 

 in the woods one day, I followed a bird for some time, the sin- 

 gularity of whose notes surprised me. Having shot him from 



* Hudson Bay Titmouse, Synopsis, II, 557. 



