322 



North American Birds Eggs. 



735. Chickadee. Parus atricapillus. 



Range.— Eastern North America, breeding from the Middle and Central States 

 northward to Labrador; only migratory to a slight extent. 



The Chickadee is too well known to need any description; suffice 

 it to say that they are the favorites, with everybody, among all 

 the North American birds. They breed in holes in trees in orchards 

 or woods, and also in bird boxes. I have found by far the greater 

 number in decayed birch stubs. They line the cavities with fine 

 grasses and feathers, and during May or June lay from five to eight [White.] 

 white eggs, dotted with reddish brown; size .55 x .45. 



735a. Long-tailed Chickadee, P. a. septentrionalis. 



Range. — Rocky Mountain region, north to British Columbia. 



This variety is very similar to the last but has a slightly longer tail and the 

 colors are purer. Its nesting habits are the same and the eggs are indistinguish- 

 able from those of the eastern Chickadee. 



735b. Oregon Chickadee. P. a. occidentaiis. 



Range. — Pacific coast from California to Alaska. 



The habits and eggs of this slightly darker variety are just the same as those 

 of the common Chickadee of the east. 



736. Carolina Chickadee. Parus caroUnensia. 

 Range.— Southern United States from the Gulf to New Jersey 



and Illinois. 



The southern Chickadee is smaller than the northern and the 

 wing coverts and feathers have little or no white edgings. Their 

 nesting habits are in every particular the same as those of atri- 

 capilhis and the eggs cannot be distinguished with certainty, but 

 average smaller; size .53 x .43. 



736a. Plumbeous Chickadee. P. c. agilis. 



Range. — Eastern and central Texas. 



This variety is said to be more plumbeous above and much whiter below than 

 the preceding. No differences can be found in the eggs of the two varieties and 

 the nesting habits are the same. 



737. Mexican Chickadee. Parus sclateri. 



Range. — Mountains of western Mexico north to southern Arizona. 



This species has the black more extended on the throat and the under parts 

 are grayish of a lighter shade than the upper, the cheeks, however, remaining 

 white. Their nests are in hollow stubs and the eggs are indistinguishable from 

 those of the foregoing Chickadees. 



738. Mountain Chickadee. Parus yambeli. 



Range. — Rocky Mountain region and west to the Pacific; north to British Co- 

 lumbia chiefly in higher ranges. 



This handsome little Titmouse has a white superciliary line, 

 leaving a black stripe through the eye. Their habits are like 

 those of the other Chickadees and they are equally confiding and 

 inquisitive. Their eggs range from five to eight in number and 

 are either pure white or faintly marked with reddish brown; size 

 .60 x .45. Data.— Estes Park, Colorado, June 8, 1803. Nest in an 

 old Sapsucker's hole in a live aspen tree, 28 feet from the ground; 

 cavity lined with hair and fur. Collector, E. B. Andrews. 



[White 



