OF EASTERN PENNSYLVANIA, 59 



where its near ally loves to congregate with snow- 

 birds, for the refuse-matter of the kitchen. 



The topmost boughs of the tallest trees in its 

 natural haunts, are its delight, because there it is 

 out of danger, and can feed upon the eggs, larvce 

 and small insects which are found in creviced 

 bark, with perfect complacency. It is very shy 

 and can be approached only with great difficulty. 

 In quest of food, its movements are imitative of 

 the Certkiida axid: Muscicapidis. Being very agile, 

 it moves along the branches with facility, now above 

 and then suspended head downward; and ever 

 and anon, darts forward with the utmost celerity 

 to seize some luckless fly or beetle as it flits by 

 on rapid wings. According to the authority of 

 Mr. Ridgway, this Titmouse is pre-eminently 

 gregarious, and often becomes a "positive nui- 

 sance" from its vehement scolding as it appears 

 to follow the hunter in troops through the 

 woods. In our latitude we have always found it 

 solitary. A noticeable feature is its protracted 

 silence in the intervals of feeding. 



Its disposition to congregate with other species 

 of birds, is chiefly noticeable during the spring 

 and autumn, when the tide of migration has set 

 northward. There are but few of our permanent 

 residents that are thus addicted. We have ob- 

 served that some which have always been 

 regarded as eminently gregarious in certain 

 quarters, are gradually losing this tendency, and 

 usually pass the winter in flocks of a half dozen 



