Wayne: Birds of South Carolina. 195 



carry building materials to the nest even after the eggs were laid. I resolved to 

 climb the tree with assistance later in the day, but a violent rain storm prevented 

 my doing so. 



The next day, however, to my sorrow, I counted five eggs upon the ground and 

 the nest completely blown out. Undismayed, the female began work again in the 

 same bunch of moss, but was not encouraged at all by her mate, who would fly 

 into a hollow near at hand and whistle for her, but she paid no attention to the 

 hollow — just looked in and left. She worked rapidly and carried huge mouthfuls 

 at every trip. Upon climbing to the nest on May 3 I found that it contained three 

 eggs, and left it for a full set. I was doomed to disappointment again, however, 

 for the next day was very stormy, and upon visiting the tree I saw all the eggs on 

 the ground and the nest, which was composed of dry leaves, hair, sedge, feathers 

 and snake skins, blown down in a mass. The fact of the Tufted Titmouse breed- 

 ing in Spanish moss is certainly a surprising departure for this bird. 



298. Penthestes carolinensis (Aud.). Carolina Chickadee. 



This species was discovered in 1833 by Audubon and Bachman 

 who procured many specimens near Charleston. Audubon 1 says: 

 "My friend John Bachman is of opinion that the smaller species 

 [carolinensis] partially retires from South Carolina during winter, 

 in consequence of the small number met with there at that season," 

 and that "the eggs are pure white." This statement is a mis- 

 conception, as the Carolina Chickadee is non-migratory and more 

 are seen during the winter months than in the breeding season, 

 for obvious reasons. Moreover, the eggs are always heavily spot- 

 ted. 



These birds frequent the same character of wooded land as 

 the Tufted Titmouse, and both species freely intermingle in 

 autumn and winter; the Carolina Chickadee, however, prefers 

 swampy woods in the breeding season rather than uplands. 

 The song period begins about the middle of February and the 

 sweet notes are always welcomed as the herald of spring. 



This species almost always excavates its own hole, rather than 

 appropriating one of a small woodpecker, or a natural cavity 

 in a tree. The birds generally select a small dead sapling (which 

 is soft) such as a sweet gum, ash, maple, or pine, though a fence 

 post is often used. Both sexes excavate, one relieving the other. 

 When the hole is completed it varies in depth from seven inches 

 to a foot or even more. The cavity is warmly lined with deli- 

 cate fibrous bark of various plants, hair, fur, and a few feathers, 

 all felted together with one side higher than the other as the birds 

 use this part of the nest to cover the eggs when not incubating. 



From five to seven eggs are laid, generally six, very rarely 



1 Birds.of America, II, 153-154. 



