THE CHICKADEE. 245 



No. 107. 



CHICKADEE. 



A. O. U. No. 735. Parus atricapillus Linn. 



Synonyms. — Black-capped Chickadee; Black-capped Titmouse. 



Description. — Adult: Top of head and nape shining black; throat dead 

 black with whitish skirting posteriorly; a white band oii side of head and neck, 

 increasing in width behind; back and scapulars gray with an olivaceous cast and 

 more or less admixture of buffy at the edges and as skirting ; wings and tail dusky, 

 more or less edged, especially on greater coverts and tertials, with ashy or whitish ; 

 breast and belly white ; sides, flanks and crissum washed with buffy or light rusty 

 (nearly whitish in summer) ; bill and feet dark. Rather variable in size; one adult 

 specimen in the O. S. U. collections measures: wing 2.27 (57.7) ; tail 2.10 (53.3) ; 

 bill .34 (8.6). Another: wing 2.70 (68.6); tail 2.57 (65.3); bill .38 (9.7). 

 Length, 4.75-5.75 (120.6-146.1) ; average of eight Columbus specimens of 

 medium size : wing 2.60 (66.) ; tail 2.44 (62.) ; bill .36 (9.1). 



Recognition Marks. — Warbler size; black of head and throat, and general 

 gray tone of remaining plumage. Not certainly distinguishable by plumage alone, 

 except in the hand, from the next species; larger. 



Nest, a heavy mat of moss, grasses, and plant-down, lined with feathers, hair 

 or fur, in made hole or natural cavity of stump or tree, usually at lower levels. 

 Eggs, 5-8, white, marked sparingly with reddish brown, in small spots, tending to 

 gather about larger end. Average size, .58 x .47 (14.7 x 11.9). 



General Range. — Eastern North America north of the Potomac and Ohio 

 Valleys. Not strictly migratory, but roving irregularly south along southern 

 boundary of range. 



Range in Oliio. — Common in northern and sub-northern Ohio. Southern 

 extension not yet clearly defined. "Abundant resident in northern and probably 

 eastern Ohio. Not common winter visitor in central and southern Ohio" 

 (Wheaton). 



BY a subtle instinct every one connects the Chickadee with winter. 

 Springtime gaity is a cheap thing and is rated accordingly. Who could help 

 being cheerful when the forests are heaving with blossom, and a thousand 

 sweet odors are filling the nostrils ? But here is a bird that loves to hear the 

 north wind go Woo-00-00, and whose good cheer is brought to its fullest per- 

 fection only by the teasing of the frost. If you have wandered out into the 

 leafless woods to mourn for the departed joys of summer or to sigh for the 

 return of spring, this little fellow hastens down from the tree-tops to com- 

 fort you, and to cry Chick-a-dee', Chick-a-dee-dee-dee. The beady little eyes 

 sparkle all the while with merriment, and there is no such thing as sadness 

 possible after a visit from the Titmouse troupe. 



