158 DA VET'S PKIMER ' 



THE TITMOUSE. 



The character of the food of titmice gives a 

 peculiar value to their services, for it consists largely of 

 the smaller insects and their eggs, objects that either 

 escape the search of the larger birds or are too in- 

 significant to be considered worthy of notice. Through- 

 out the year most of the species of this group remain on 

 their range, so that they are constantly engaged in their 

 beneficial work, continuing it in winter when the 

 majority of their coworkers have fled to a milder 

 clime. It is at this season that the titmice do their 

 greatest good, for when flying and crawling insects 

 are no more to be found, the birds must feed upon such 

 hibernating species as they find concealed in crevices or 

 upon the eggs of insects laid in similar places. 



There are within the boundaries of the United States 

 some 17 species of titmice, with nearly as many races or 

 subspecies, so that there is no portion of the country 

 that does not have one or more forms. In the eastern 

 portion of the country the best-known and most widely 

 distributed species is the common black-capped chicka- 

 dee. This bird, or some of its subspecies, occupies the 

 whole of that part of the United States north of the 

 latitude of Washington, and extends into Canada. It 

 is a prolific breeder, usually rearing from six to eight 

 young in a brood. 



The examination of 289 stomachs of the chickadee 

 shows that its food consists of 68 per cent of animal 



