180 Scientific Proceedings, Royal Dublin Society. 



of the cedars, the sunward side at least being sufficiently thawed 

 to allow them to carry on their operations successfully. 



LoPHOPHANES BICOLOE (Linn.) Tvfted Titmouse. — Eesident 

 and abundant at all seasons of the year, for though less conspi- 

 cuous during the breeding season, when they retire to the timber 

 lands in the vicinity of the ponds and rivers, close search will 

 reveal their presence in considerable numbers even then. The 

 only nest which I discovered was formed in an old boring of one 

 of the smaller woodpecker's, about six feet from the ground, and 

 contained young. They are undoubtedly more numerous during 

 the colder months, when they are found wherever there are trees, 

 but especially in the post oak woods bordering the dense timber. 

 They are familiar and amusing little birds, and, having no fear of 

 the hunter, often follow him on his way through the bush, vehe- 

 mently scolding all the while, and making a frequent hissing 

 noise, similar to that produced by P. cceruleus, if disturbed when 

 on its nest. They are also very pugnacious, incessantly quarrel- 

 ling among themselves, and when fired at and wounded coura- 

 geously defend themselves, turning on their back and fighting 

 fiercely with beak and claws, and the sharpness and strength of 

 the former is so great as to enable them to draw blood. Like all 

 the family, they are very restless, ever flitting from tree to tree 

 while they examine diligently the trunk and branches for con- 

 cealed insects, which in summer form their chief food, but in 

 winter, small seeds, and even acorns, which they break in pieces 

 by repeated and quick strokes of the bill, are more sought for. 

 Though its call-note is essentially tit-like, the song, which is very 

 loud and exquisitely clear, bears no resemblance to that of any 

 of the family which I have heard. 



Paeus ateicapillus, Linn. Black-capped Titmouse This 



species appears to be merely a scarce autumn migrant to this 

 district, where I met with it but twice, though keeping a careful 

 watch for migratory birds daily during the fall. The first of these 

 occurrences happened on Sej)tember 23rd, when I shot an adult 

 female, one of a pair, and again, five days later, obtained a male 

 from a small flock in the same place. The stomachs of both 

 these examples contained insects and their eggs. In habits they 

 differ in nothing remarkable from the following species, but in 

 appearance they are easily distinguishable. A female obtained in 



