74 8 



The Sparrow-like Birds 



There have been, and perhaps still are, some differences of opinion as to 

 the rank and position of this group. Mr. Gates boldly places them as a sub- 

 family among the Crows and Jays (Corvidiz), to which they are undoubtedly 

 allied, but from which they are distinguished by having the first primary never 

 more, and usually less, than half the length of the second. The Parida is 

 usually made to include the Nuthatches (Sittida) and Wren-Tits (Cham&ida), 

 but all are here considered as entitled to full "family" rank. 



Typical Titmice. The typical Titmice to the number of more than a hun- 

 dred forms are embraced in a single genus (Pams), or, if we are to follow the 

 most recent authority, in some twelve or fifteen genera into which this genus 

 has been broken, often it would seem on very slight grounds. In its wider ac- 

 ceptance the genus is represented in North America by some ten species and an 



equal number of geographical 

 races, all being plainly colored, 

 grayish or brownish above, and 

 whitish or rusty beneath, per- 

 haps the best-known being the 

 common Chickadee (P. [or Pen- 

 thestes] atricapillus] of eastern 

 North America north of the 

 Potomac and Ohio valleys, 

 which has the top of the head, 

 nape, and throat shining black. 

 Throughout much of its range, 

 but especially in New England, 

 it is a common and familiar 

 bird, usually shunning the 

 vicinity of hurrian habitations 

 during the nesting season, but 



in winter coming about orchards and gardens in larger or smaller flocks. 

 Its favorite haunts are the edge of woods, where it finds both food and 

 shelter to its taste, its cheery call of chick-a-dee so plainly announcing its 

 name that all who hear may know. It is a very tame and confiding not to 

 say inquisitive bird, coming at a whistled imitation of its note to investigate 

 the newcomer and not infrequently to alight on his outstretched hand. The 

 nesting site is usually a tiny hole excavated in a decayed stump, sometimes 

 a hole in a tree, and rarely a crevice about buildings. The nest is composed 

 of soft felted materials such as fine grasses, moss, feathers, or hair, and the 

 eggs, five to eight in number, are white spotted with reddish brown. In the 

 Rocky Mountain district occurs a paler, much longer-tailed race known as 

 the Long-tailed Chickadee (P. a. septentrionalis), and in the northwestern 

 coast district a smaller and darker-colored race, the Oregon Chickadee (P. a. 

 occidentalis) . 



Carolina Chickadee and Allies. Differing from the last species in its smaller 

 size, the absence of whitish edgings to the wing-coverts, and more extensively 



FIG. 210. Black-capped Chickadee, Parus atricapillus. 



