632 HISTORY OF THE 



SP. CHAR. Adult: Entire pileum and cervix glossy black; chin, throat and 

 malar region black, this broken posteriorly by whitish tips to the feathers; sides 

 of head and neck white; upper parts ash gray, more or less tinged with yellow- 

 ish; wings blackish, the feathers edged with light ashy, the greater coverts and 

 tertials broadly edged with white; tail dusky, the feathers edged with ashy, in- 

 clining to white on lateral retrices. Median lower parts (from jugulum back) 

 white, lateral portions buff; bill black; feet bluish plumbeous; iris dark brown. 

 Young: Very similar to the adult, but black of pileum and cervix without gloss, 

 that of the throat more sooty, buff of sides less distinct, and plumage of looser 

 texture. (Ridgway.) 



Stretch of 

 Length. iving. Wing. Tail. Tarsus. Bill. 



Male 5.50 8.00 2.60 2.60 .67 .33 



Female... 5.35 7.75 2.50 2.50 .65 .32 



Iris dark brown; bill, feet and claws black; legs slate brown. 



The natural home of these sprightly little birds is within the 

 woodlands, but they often frequent orchards and gardens, and in 

 severe winter weather, when the snow lies upon the branches of 

 the trees and fills the crevices in the bark, they visit the door- 

 yards to pick up the scattered crumbs, and if a piece of fresh 

 meat is hung up in a tree or upon the side of an outbuilding, 

 they will come daily to pick off frozen bits, until the weather 

 moderates and melts the snow and ice that covered the eggs, 

 larva, etc., upon which they are accustomed to feed. The 

 birds are very social and move about in small flocks, a happy 

 group, chatting away, and "merrily singing their Chick-a-dee- 

 dee." 



In the early mating season they have a loud, clear, whistling 

 song, "Peto," uttered at short intervals, and various quaint, 

 chatty call notes. Graceful little fellows ! that fly from tree to 

 tree and actively search the branches, often swinging feet up- 

 permost from the ends of slender twigs, to pick out a seed, an 

 insect from a leaf, or larva hidden in a bud. Pretty birds ! 

 that with their familiar, unsuspicious ways win our love; and in 

 addition to this should receive a warm welcome for the good 

 they do in ridding the forest and fruit trees of their many pests. 

 Mr. Samuels, in "Birds of New England." says: 



"In some localities the Titmouse is regarded as injurious, 

 from the fact that it is often seen among the branches and leaves 

 of the fruit trees and shrubs, pecking off and destroying the 



