TITMICE. 137 



part of the spring. The cole titmouse* also fre- 

 quently utters from the tops of the spruce-firs a 

 compound note, which sounds like titwee, repeated 

 quickly about five or six times; the first syllable 

 being pronounced very short, but great stress being 

 laid upon the second. Both these species, however, 

 have other notes, not so well marked, some of which 

 they use in common with the great titmouse. f 

 The long-tailed titmousej appears to be almost 

 mute, or to possess scarcely more than one rather 

 weak note, that acts as a sort of call to the young 

 birds, which, after leaving the nest, follow the old 

 ones throughout the season. 



April 17, 1830. Found the nest of a long- 

 tailed titmouse, in a red cedar, about five feet from 

 the ground; of a very curious and singular form, 

 long and oval, about the size of a smallish melon, 

 with a small hole in the side, through which the 

 parent bird enters ; constructed chiefly of mosses, 

 wool, and dry grass, having the outside beautifully 

 studded with lichens, and the inside thickly lined 

 with a profusion of down and soft feathers. The 

 nest contained ten eggs, about the size of a small 



* P. ater, Linn. 



f It is correctly noted by an observing naturalist, that the 

 great titmouse and cole titmouse "will often acquire or com- 

 pound a note, become delighted with it, and repeat it incessantly 

 for an hour or so, then seem to forget or be weary of it, and we 

 hear it no more." Journ. of a Naturalist, 3rd edit. p. 164. 



J P. caudatus, Linn. 



According to Selby, the notes of this species " in the spring 

 are more varied, and it can utter a pleasing, though low and short 

 song.'-' This, however, I never heard. 



