PAK1D.E — THE TITMICE. 107 



the nest of tliis hemic pair did not contain wliat we sont^lit, we left tlicni, and 

 tnrned to look with e([Uiil adniinition upon tiio imlignant asseni1>ly of feath- 

 eied remonstrants by wliich wo were surrouui^od. The neij;hl)orin<^' trees 

 swarmed with a variety of birds, several of which we had never l)efore seen 

 in their sunnner homes. There were the lled-Poll Warbler, the JUaclv and 

 Yellow Warbler, and many others, all earnestly and elocpiently crying out 

 shame upon our proceedings. 



Dr. Bryant, in his Notes on the Birds of Y:jr?noutli, N. S., etc., mentions 

 finding quite a inimber of this .species on Big Mud Island, near that place. 

 A pair of these birds with their young were seen by him near Yarmoutli on 

 the 3d of July. Their habits seemed to him identical with those of the 

 Black-Cap. The young were fully grown and could Hy with case, yet tlieir 

 parents were so solicitous about tlieir safety that he could almost catch them 

 with his ha ". Their notes appeared to him similar to those of our common 

 species, but sharper and more tiling, and can be readily imitated by repeat- 

 ing, with one's front teeth sluit together, the syllables ('.ee-dee-ilte-tlee. 



Mr. Audubon found a nest of this Titmouse inl^alirador. It was built in a 

 decayed stump about three feet front the ground, was purse-slraped, eight 

 inches in depth, two in diameter, and its sides an-inch thick. It wius entirely 

 composed of the finest fur of various quadrupeds, cliiefly of tlie nortiieru 

 hare, and all so thickly and ingeniou.sly mattetl throvighout as to seem as if 

 felted by the hand of man. It was wider at the bottom than at the top. 

 The birds vehemently assailed the party. 



Mr. Boss, in notes comnumicated to the late Mr. Kennicott, mentions that 

 specimens of this sjiecies were shot at Fort Simpson, October I'i, in com- 

 pany with J', septentrional is, and others were afterwards seen towards the 

 mountains. The notes he describes as harsher than tliose of the septintrio- 

 imlia. The Smithsonian nuiseum contains s])eo'iiiens from Fort Yukon and 

 Great Slave Lake, besides the hicalities already referred to. Mr. Dall found 

 it the commonest Titmouse at Nulato, abunilant in the winter, but not pres- 

 ent in the spring. 



Tiie eggs of tliis species measure .5G by .47 of an inch, are of a I'oundcd 

 oval shape, am' with a white ground are somewhat sparingly marked witli 

 a few reddish-brown spots. These are usually grouped in a ring around tiie 

 larger end. 



f ENus FSALTRIPARUS, ^Boxap. 



Pmltripnru.i, Ronav. Coniptcs R('n(lu.s, XXXI, IS.'iO, 478. (Tyiio, P. mclanotis.) 

 ^Kili/linliini.i, Caii.vnis, Musi'iim lli'liicnmim, 1851, UO. (Tyiw, Parm trylhruccphalus.) 

 Pmltrw, Cassin, 111. X. Am. Uird.s, 1853, lU. 



(iKN. CiiAU. Sizi" very small ami .■^li'iuler. Bill very small, short, coniprcssi'il, nml 

 with its ii|)por onlliiK" iiiiich t'lirviMl for tin; terminal half. I'ppi'r maiidililo much di'opi'r 

 than under. Tail Kmil', slender, nmcli graduated; miieh hinii-er tliaii liie \viiijr'<; llio 

 I'eutlicis very narrow. Tarsi coiisiduiably longer than tho niiddlo toe. No black ou the 



