62 LIFE-HISTORIES OF BIRDS 



and ingratiates itself into our favor and esteem 

 by its familiar manners and winning actions^ 

 becoming so tame and fearless as even to visit 

 our very door-ways for the crumbs which have 

 fallen from the table, unheedful of the near 

 approach of human beings. Again, it will descend 

 to the ground and mingle with the common barn- 

 yard fowls for its share of cracked corn. If the 

 wood-house door is 'carelessly left open, it will 

 gratify its curiosity by entering, and having satis- 

 fied it quietly retire. " Its appetite at these times is 

 far from being fastidious. J\.lmost all things 

 edible are, devoured with avidity; even the bacon 

 which is used to grease the saw, and which is a 

 noticeable feature of every wood-house, disappears 

 before its keen appetite. 



Within its sylvan retreats it is more retired. 

 Few species are more active in the pursuit of 

 insects than the subject of the present sketch. It 

 is the very impersonation of agility, and combines- 

 in a remarkable manner the twofold character of 

 an expert Creeper and skillful Flycatcher; mov- 

 ing circuitously up the trunk and along the 

 horizontal branches, freely suspending itself in an 

 inverted manner by the aid of its claws, with the 

 nimbleness and gracefulness of the Brown 

 Creeper. 



Ever restless it moves with rapidity from tree 

 to tree. Unlike the Crested Titmouse, it generally 

 travels in pairs which prove to be male and female. 

 If either in its eager pursuit of food, unknowingly 



