THE COMMON BUSH-CREEPER. 227 



The Titmice form a numerous race, five genera and sixteen species inhabiting North 

 America. Several varieties are also known. The European species are beautifully illustrated 

 in these pages, showing the general characteristics. The American species are not so diversi- 

 fied in colors, nor in form, but are cheery little creatures. Their chick-a-dee-dee-phcebee 

 notes in the cold winter weather claims for them much admiration. 



The Black-capped Titmouse (Parus atricapillus), is one of our most familiar birds. 

 He is resident the year 'round ; active, noisy, restless, hardy beyond any of his size, braving 

 the severest cold of our continent as far north as the country around Hudson's Bay, and always 

 appearing most lively in the coldest weather. The males have a variety of very sprightly 

 notes, which cannot, indeed, be called a song, but rather a lively, frequently-repeated, and 

 often-varied twitter. They are mostly seen in fall and winter, when they leave the depths of 

 the woods and approach nearer scenes of civilization. At such seasons they abound among 

 evergreens, feeding on the seeds of the pine-trees. 



The Bearded Titmouse is one of the long-tailed species. It is rare in England, and has 

 only lately been introduced into the British Fauna. It is not uncommon on the continent. 

 It displays the singular feat, seen in some of this race, of hanging head downwards to feed 

 on its prey. Its voice is remarkably soft and low, and resembles, it is said, the distant sound 

 of small cymbals. 



The Least Tit is, truly, a "tid-bit"of a, bird, only four inches in length. It inhabits the 

 Pacific coast. 



BUSH-CREEPERS. 



The Mniotiltmce, or Bush-Creepers, are well represented by the common Bush-Creeper 

 of India. 



It is a sociable little bird, being generally seen in small troops, and often associating with 

 birds of different species. Although not very shy, it yet loves retired localities, such as woods 

 and thickets, and may there be seen flitting merrily among the foliage and underwood, and 

 perpetually engaged in a search after insects. In some of its movements it resembles the honey- 

 eaters, for it .often pushes its head completely into the corollas of flowers while endeavoring to 

 capture the minute insects that lurk at the bottom of the cup, and emerges with its forehead 

 covered with yellow pollen. The voice is a low twittering note, constantly uttered while the 

 bird is in motion, but there is no real song. 



The nest of the Bush-Creeper is rather variable iu its position and structure, sometimes 

 being suspended from the branches, and at others placed in the centre of some thick bush. 

 Generally it is suspended between two twigs, to which it is woven by means of various animal 

 and vegetable fibres, mostly obtained from the cocoon of caterpillars and the fibrous bark of 

 trees. The shape of the nest is cup-like, but the w T hole structure is so delicately balanced that 

 even in a fierce storm the eggs are not flung out of their places. 



There are many species of Creepers, some of which inhabit Asia, others are found in Africa, 

 and some in Australia. The word Mniotiltinse is of Greek origin, and signifies "moss- 

 pluckers," while the term Zosterops signifies "girdle-faced," and has been given to this bird 

 in consequence of a well-defined circlet of light-colored feathers which surrounds the eye. 



