PARID.K — THK TITMICK. 119 



of workmen eii«,'ii<;i'(l in st'ttiiijf lioiiu-polcs. Tliey visited and carefully 

 examined each pole, and bored holes into .several in search of hidden larwe, 

 often within a few feet of ]»ersoiis at work. 



While on the IWilu- coast they are said to prefer the forests of deciduous 

 trees, and to he rarely found in the dark ever<,'reen fn-ests, in the Eastern 

 States they seem to be particularly fond of the seeds of pine-trees, and in 

 the winter are seldom found in the woods of deciduous trees. 



They feed in pairs and climb about in all directions, usually in comjmny 

 with the white-breasted species, Chickadees, and the smaller Woodpeckers. 

 They are restless and rapid in their motions, and have a voice at Ic'ast an 

 octave hi<Ther than any other of this fan)ily. The note is a monotone, and is 

 unmusical. Mr. Xuttall represents their cry as consistinj^ of three .syllables, 

 represented by (l(li/-(l(l;/-(hlit, and comi)ares it to the sound of a child's 

 trumj)et. 



Those winteriuff at the North occasionally visit farm-yards and orchards, 

 and examine the eaves of outbuildings for food. 



Audubon found this sjuuies more jilentiful in the woods of Afaine and 

 Nova Scotia than anywhere else. I lis never met any south of Maryland, 

 saw none in Newfoundland, and oidy met with one in Librador. At East- 

 jHU't he found a pair breedin<,' as early as the I'Jth of Aja-il, l)efore the 

 liluebirds had made their a])pearance, and while ice was still remaining on 

 the northern exposures. An excavation had been made in a low dead stumj), 

 less than four feet from the ground, both male and female birds working 

 by turns until they hail reached the depth of fourteen inches. The eggs, 

 four in numlKfr, were of a white ground-color, tinged with a deej) blush 

 when fresh, and sprinkled with reddish dots. They raise but a single brood 

 in a season. 



C. S. I'aine, of East IJethel, \t., found a nest of this sjtecies about the 

 middle of May, in a small beech-tree, the tixcavation having Iteen nrade at 

 the height of twelve feet from the ground. The hole was abo\it as large as 

 that made by the Downy Woodpecker. When lirst noticed, the bird was 

 looking out of the hole. Having been started out, she Hew to a limb close 

 by and watched the party some time. AVhen she flew back, she buzzed 

 before the hole in the maimer of a Hununing-l>ird, and then darted in. 

 While Afr. I'aine was looking on, the male came .several times to feed his 

 inat(f, who would meet him at tiie opening with a clamonuis noise, to receive 

 his bounty. The nest contained live eggs. 



In Western Massachu.setts, Mr. Allen sjteaks of this species as chit^Hy a 

 winter resident, appearing the (irst week in October, anil leaving the hist 

 of Ap-1. 



The eggs of this species measure .(12 by .48 of an iiu'.h, and are of an 

 oblong-(»val shape. Their ground-color is a clear crystal white, marked 

 priiu;ipally about the larger end with a wreath of purple and roseate 

 markings. 



