BIRDS OF THE GRAND PRfi REGION- — TUFTS. l97 



depend upon the abundance of the seed-bearing 

 cones of the evergreens. Thus in 1902, 190G, 1913, 

 when Crossbills nested in the county, Ked-breasted 

 Nuthatches were very common all winter, spring 

 and summer. Other years their occurrence is rare 

 and irregular, and what winter records I have were 

 all made in the remote lumber woods. 



735. Penthcstes atricapiUus atricapillus (Linn.). Chickadee. 

 — Common permanent resident. Observed in 

 spring and summer in wooded sections more or 

 less remote from settled districts; in fall and winter, 

 commonl}' seen about our orchards, hedge-rows and 

 gardens. Nests late in ^lay. This cheery little 

 fellow responds readily to kind treatment. I 

 have them feeding in my garden on bits of suet, 

 bones, etc., all through the winter months. Last 

 spring (1916) a pair nested in a box provided for 

 them, and (due to the enforced absence of cats 

 about our immediate locality) were able to get 

 their brood off in safety. 



740a. Penthestes hudsonicus littoralis (Bryant). Acadian 

 Chickadee.- — Permanent resident, fairly common- 

 Rare some winters. Frequents evergreen trees and 

 thickets, usually in low swampy land. Nests latter 

 part of ]May. These birds rarely, if ever, leave 

 the evergreen woods. They may often be seen in 

 fall and winter feeding in twos and threes in company 

 with the spry little Kinglets, but unlike the preceding 

 species, do not venture into our orchards and gardens. 

 Their note to me sounds like, "Sick-a-dee-dee"; 

 while that of the other species is rather more clear- 

 cut and more in keeping with the name — "Chick- 

 adee". 



