20 UIRIJS OK V. E. ISLAND. 



titmouse Jfamili). 



BLACK-CAPPKD CHICKADEE. 

 (Parus atricapilliis) 



The Chickadees are the most common birds in 

 in our winter woods. You no sooner enter the 

 snow -draped thicket than out bobs a tiny black 

 head to greet you with a merry pee-dee^ and you 

 see the httle songsters flitting everywhere in the 

 frozen boughs, perfectly at home as they pounce 

 on the dormant insects that infest the foliage. 

 Their activity is ceaseless. Flitting, twirling like 

 acrobats on the naked sprays, heels up, head up, 

 it makes no difference. Calling from the loftiest 

 tree top, whispering from the low thicket, they 

 are the very spirits of the winter wood - lands, with- 

 out which these would often be destitute of 

 animate life. 



The Black -capped Chickadee is distinguished 

 by his clear -ashy coat, and whitish vest, and 

 conspicuous black crown and throat. Female 

 the same color. The nest is built in a hole in 

 a stump, which the little architect excavates for 



