BLACK-CAP TITMOUSE. 379 
roosts in its nest during winter, and in summer amid the close foliage 
of firs or evergreens. In winter, indeed, as well as often in autumn, 
it is seen near the farm-houses, and even in villages and towns, busily 
seeking for food among the trees. 
“* On seeing a cat, or other object of natural antipathy,” says Mr 
Nurratt, “ the Chickadee, like the peevish Jay, scolds in a loud, angry, 
and hoarse note, “tshe, daigh daigh daigh. Among the other notes of 
this species, I have heard a call like tshe-de-jay, tshe-de-jay. the two first 
syllables being a slender chirp, with the jay strongly pronounced. 
The only note of this bird which may be called a song, is one which is 
frequently heard at intervals in the depths of the forest, at times of 
day usually when all other birds are silent. We then may sometimes 
hear in the midst of this solitude two feeble, drawling, clearly whist- 
led, and rather melancholy notes like te-dérry, and sometimes ye-pérrit, 
and occasionally, but more rarely in the same wiry, whistling, solemn 
tone, "phébé. The young in winter also sometimes drawl out these 
contemplative strains. In all cases the first syllable is very high and 
clear, the second word drops low, and ends like a feeble plaint. This 
is nearly all the quaint song ever attempted by the Chickadee. On fine 
days, about the commencement of October, I have heard the Chicka. 
dee sometimes, for half an hour at a time, attempt a lively, petulant 
warble, very different from his ordinary notes. On these occasions he 
appears to flirt about, still hunting for his prey, in an ecstacy of delight 
and vigour. But after a while the usual drawling note again occurs. 
These birds, like many others, are very subject to the attacks of ver- 
min, and they accumulate in great numbers around that part of the 
head and front which is least accessible to their foot.” 
Parus arricaPitius, Linn. Syst. Nat. vol. i. p. 341. 
Parus arricaPitivs, Lath. Ind. Ornith. vol. ii. p. 566. 
Buacx-cart T1rmousE, Parus arricaPitius, Wils. Amer. Ornith. vol. i. p. 134, 
pl. 8, fig. 4. 
Parvs aTRICAPILLUS, Ch. Bonaparte, Synopsis of Birds of United States, p. 100. 
Buacx-cart Trrmovse, Nuitall, Manual, vol. ii. p. 241. 
Adult Male. Plate CCCLITI. Fig. 3. 
Bill short, straight, strong, compressed, rather obtuse ; both man- 
