The Tufted Titmouse 395 



Wren were his "constant and amusing companions" during a winter spent in 

 the solitudes of the southern states. 



After writing that "the notes of the Peto generally partake of the high, 

 echoing, clear tone of the Baltimore Bird," Nuttall describes what he calls 

 peevish notes, "uttered in anger at being approached," answered perhaps 

 "by some neighboring rival, against whom they appeared levelled in taunt 

 and ridicule, being accompanied by extravagant gestures." These notes were 

 given in a low, hoarse, "harsh voice, and in a peevish tone exactly like that 

 of the Jay and the Chickadee . . . day-day-day-day ', and 

 day-ddy-day-day-ddit^ sometimes becoming low and querulous. 'Tshica 

 dee-dee and kai-tee-did did-dit-did were other variations. 



"Later in the season, in February," Nuttall goes on to say, "when in the 

 lower part of Alabama the mild influence of spring began already to be felt, 

 our favorite, as he gaily pursued the busy tribe of insects, now his principal 

 food, called, as he vaulted restlessly from branch to branch, in an echoing, 

 rapid voice, at short intervals, peto-petd-peto-peto. This tender call of recogni- 

 tion was at length answered, and continued at intervals for a minute or two; 

 they then changed their quick call into a slower peto peto peto; and now the 

 natural note passed into the plaintive key, sounding like que-ah que-ah; then, 

 in the same breath, a jarring note like that of the Catbird, and in part like 

 the sound made by putting the lower lip to the upper teeth, and calling 'tsh'vah, 

 'tsh'vah. After this the call of kerry-kerry-kerry-kerry struck up with an echoing 

 sound. ... At length, more delicately than at first, in an under- 

 tone, you hear anew, and in a tender accent, peto peto peto. In the caprice 

 and humor of our performer, tied by no rules but those of momentary feeling, 

 the expression will perhaps change into a slow and full peet-peet-a-peet-a-peet, 

 then a low and very rapid ker-ker-ker-ker-ker-kerry, sometimes so quick as 

 almost to resemble the rattle of a watchman. At another time his morning 

 song commences like the_ gentle whispers of an aerial spirit, and then becoming 

 high and clear like the voice of the Nightingale, he cries keeva keeva keeva keeva; 

 but soon falling into the querulous, the day-day-day-day-day-dait of the Chicka- 

 dee terminates his performance. Imitative, as well as inventive," Nuttall 

 continues, "I have heard the Peto also sing something like the lively chatter 

 of the Swallow, leta-leta-leta-letalit, and then vary into peto-peto-peto-peto-peto 

 extremely quick." 



In conclusion, Nuttall says that while the song of the Peto is confined to 

 these "simple, playful, or pathetic calls, yet the compass of voice and the tone 

 in which they are uttered, their capricious variety, and their general effect, 

 at the season of the year when they are heard, are quite as pleasing to the 

 contemplative observer as the mOre exquisite notes of the summer songsters 

 of the verdant forest." 



The varied notes and tones of the Titmouse easily interpret its changing 

 moods, but an additional clue to its state of mind is given by its use of its 



