320 BIRDS OF PENNSYLVANIA. 



casional summer resident in the southern part of Pennsylvania. Dr. 

 Treichler has observed it as a rare breeder in the vicinity of Elizabeth- 

 town, Lancaster county. Its nests and eggs have also been obtained in 

 Chester county ; in Clinton county Dr. W. Van Fleet records it as a 

 straggler. In relation to the breeding 1 of this species in Chester county, 

 I am indebted to Dr. Wm. D. Hartman, the well known conchologist of 

 West Chester, Penna., for the following: About fifteen years ago Dr. W. L. 

 Hartman, of Pittston, Penn'a, found the Carolina Chickadee breeding in 

 willow trees near a swamp, about three miles from West Chester. The 

 nests, composed entirely of moss (Sphagnum), wer-e all built in cavities 

 in the decayed trunks of the willow trees. The first nest taken con- 

 tained nine eggs, and after these were secured Dr. Hartman twice, in 

 the course of about a month, secured two more nests in the same swamp. 

 Each nest was placed in a new cavity which had nine eggs. When the 

 last set of eggs was secured the old bird was captured and sent to the 

 Smithsonian Institution and identified. Dr. Hartman saw but one pair 

 of birds. The excavations, rather small at the 'entrance and quite roomy 

 at the bottom, were unquestionably, the doctor believes, made by the 

 birds whose eggs were taken. Food similar to that of the Black-cap 

 Titmouse. 



FAMILY SYLVIID^I. KINGLETS AND GNATCATCHERS. 



SUBFAMILY REGULIN-ffi. KINGLETS. 



THE KINGLETS. 



Two representatives of this subfamily, the smallest of all our species except the 

 Hummingbird, are found in Pennsylvania. These the Ruby-crowned and Golden- 

 crowned Kinglets are common and generally dispersed throughout the state. The 

 Ruby-crowned is abundant during migrations (spring and fall) in woodland, thick- 

 ets, orchards and it is also often seen in trees and shrubbery about the habita- 

 tion of man, actively seeking insects. The Golden-crowned equally as plentiful as 

 the other species, with which, during the spring and autumn, it frequently associates 

 is one ot our most unsuspicious, dainty and interesting winter residents. Both of 

 these species are usually found in this locality in flocks of from a half dozen to 

 twenty (sometimes many more) each. These birds when migrating are often ob- 

 served in considerable numbers in evergreens and bushes about streams. Kinglets, 

 as their specific names indicate, have conspicuous color patches on the head. Ac- 

 cording to my observation these diminutive birds feed exclusively on insects, such as 

 plant-lice, small beetles, flies, spiders and larvae ; some writers, however, assert that 

 they su.bsist, in part, on small berries and different seeds, which they break open 

 by striking with the bill in the same manner as a Titmouse. The blackish, slender 

 and straight bill, much shorter than head, is notched at tip, depressed at base, and 

 much compressed toward the terminal half. Conspicuous rictal bristles ; tail 

 moderately forked and shorter than the wings. First primary about one-third as 

 long as second, which is shorter than third, fourth, fifth or sixth, but about equal 

 to the seventh. Eyes brown. Legs and feet (dried skins) yellowish-brown. 



