1136 REPORT OF STATE GEOLOGIST. 



their happiness throughout all the woods, and the sugar-makers know 

 them then as "Sugar Birds." I have observed them mating as early as 

 April 8 (1887), and have found them nest-building May 16 (1884). 

 The nest is usually in a hole in a tree, snag, fencestake or post. Messrs. 

 Dury and Freeman found an unusual nest, May 25, 1878, near Cin- 

 cinnati, 0. A Tufted Titmouse selected as its breeding place the 

 discarded nest of some large bird, in the top of a tall sapling. The 

 bird had deposited six eggs (nearly hatched when found) on a layer of 

 dry grass, which nicely lined a large hole which she had excavated in 

 the side of the rough structure (Journ. Gin. Soc. N. H., 1879). The 

 Tufted Titmouse is not only a hunter of insects over the trunks and 

 among the limbs of trees, .but it examines the ground and explores the 

 rank shrubbery. It also visits the orchards, and sometimes makes its 

 home there. There it is very busy about the blossoms, leaves and 

 fruit, not only gathering insects for itself, but also to supply the wants 

 of its young. 



Subgenus PARUS Linnaeus. 



*309. (735). Parus atricapillus LINN. 



Chickadee. 

 Synonym, BLACK-CAPPED CHICKADEE. 



Adult. Above, plain grayish; crown and throat, deep black; greater 

 wing coverts, distinctly edged with whitish; sides of head and neck,, 

 and other lower parts, white, the latter buffy on the sides; tail and 

 wing, usually about equal in length. 



Length, 4.70-5.75; wing, 2.50-2.75; tail, 2.50-2.*75. 



RANGE. Northeastern North America, from North Carolina (in 

 Alleghany Mountains), Missouri, southern Illinois, northern Indiana 

 and Virginia to Labrador and Ontario. Breeds almost to the southern 

 limit of its range. 



Nest and Eggs, similar to those of P. carolinensis. 



Abundant resident in the northern part of the State; common win- 

 ter resident for a little distance south of the area where it is a resident. 

 Not often seen in the southern part of the State, and then only as a 

 winter visitor. In the absence of a series of specimens it is impossible 

 to define the limits of the range of this species southward, or of the 

 next bird northward. However, to most persons, they appear to be 

 the same bird; and, as their habits are practically the same, the only 

 ones who will regret this lack of detail will be the naturalists. This 

 Chickadee is a common resident in Lake County (Parker); Dekalb 

 County (Mrs. Hine); Tippecanoe County (Test); Starke County 



