DESCRIPTIVE LIST 325 



rather than leave her eggs. The same authority further says that out of one hun- 

 dred nests he examined the lowest was five feet, and the highest sixty-five feet from 

 the ground. 



Genus Penthestes (Reichenb.) 



KEY TO SPECIES 



1. Wing considerably longer than tail; greater wing-coverts without distinct whitish edging; 



black of throat sharply defined behind. Carolina Chickadee. 

 1. Wing little if any longer than tail; greater wing- coverts with distinct whitish edgings; black 



of throat more or less broken behind. Chickadee. 



330. Penthestes atricapillus atricapillus (Linn.). CHICKADEE. 



Description: Ads. Top of the head, nape, and throat shining black; sides of the head and 

 neck white; back ashy; outer vanes of greater wing-coverts distinctly margined with white; 

 wing and tail-feathers margined with whitish; breast white; belly and sides waghed with c eam- 

 buff. L., 5.27; W., 2.53; T., 2.43; B., .37. (Chap., Birds of E. N. A.) 



Range. Eastern North America, mainly north of Virginia. 



Range in North Carolina. Resident on some of the higher mountains. 



The Chickadee is the common northern species, but in this State and southward 

 it is replaced by the next, except on the higher mountains. 



So far, it has been noted by Cairns as a common resident on the Black Moun- 

 tains in Buncombe County at an elevation of 5,000 feet and over; by Brewster, 

 who found it from 5,000 feet upward in 1885; and by Metcalf, who heard the 

 birds on Jones's Balsam Mountain, near Waynesville, at an elevation of 5,000 to 

 6,000 feet, September 17, 1908. 



The habits are similar to those of the Carolina Chicadee, but the notes are said 

 to be decidedly different. 



331. Penthestes carolinensis carolinensis (And.}. CAROLINA CHICKADEE. 



Description. Similar to the preceding species, but smaller; greater wing-coverts not margined 

 with whitish; wing and tail-feathers with less white on their outer vanes. L., 4.064.75; W., 

 2.20-2.48; T., 1.88-2.12; B., .30-.32. (Chap., Birds of E. N. A.) 



Range. Southern States, from Virginia southward. 



Range in North Carolina. Whole State at all seasons, except, except the summits of the higher 

 mountains. 



Fia. 266. CAROLINA CHICKADEE. 



The Carolina Chickadee is the common " Tomtit" of our State, being abundant 

 wherever trees and bushes abound. 



