Nests in Holes in Trees, Stumps, or Logs 



736. Carolina Chickadee : Parus carolinensus Aud. 



A Southern species of the chickadee, its smaller size being 

 the most distinctive point of difference. Length — ^4.06 to 4.75. 



Breeding Range — From central New Jersey and Illinois southward. 



Nesting habits and eggs similar to the preceding. 



740. Hudsonian Chickadee: Parus hudsonicus Forst. 



Very similar to the chickadee, the principal differences be- 

 ing upper part of head brown instead of black ; back brownish 

 gray ; sides chestnut. 



Breeding Range — Northward from the northern part of New Eng- 

 land, and probably in the Adirondacks. 



Nesting habits very similar to those of the chickadee. 



766. Bluebird: Sialia sialis (Linn.) 



Adult 3 — Upper parts intense blue ; under parts terra cotta, belly 



whitish. 

 Adults — Grayish blue, sides and breast lighter. Length — 7.01. 

 Immature i, — Bird three months old, upper parts grayish blue, 



spotted with pale gray ; wings and tail blue ; upper part of 



breast terra cotta ; the centre of each feather buffy white ; 



lower part of breast and sides terra cotta ; belly whitish. 

 Breeding Range — From the Gulf States northward. The nest is 



of grass, placed in a hole in a tree or in a bird-box. 3 to 6 



pale blue, sometimes white, eggs are laid. Size — .84 x .62. 



See Fig. i, Plate C. 



When the song of the Bluebird is heard, we who love not 

 the cold weather are glad, for we know that in a few weeks the 

 frost will leave the ground and the pure white flower of the 

 bloodroot will lift its leaf-encircled head from the damp, dead 

 leaves of the year that has past. But that is not our only reason 

 for gladness ; we look on the bluebird as a friend, one that spends 

 his summers near us, leaving only when the frosts of late Novem- 

 ber come to tell him that 'tis time to go south, as food is becom- 

 ing scarce. He is my favourite bird ; and while I am writing of 



