SONG BIRDS OF OBCEABD AND WOODLAND. 163 



expect such work of Creepers or of Woodpeckers ; but the 

 Kinglets seemed to have departed from their usual habits of 

 gleaning among limbs and foliage, to take the place of the 

 missing Creepers, not one of which was seen in the grove 

 last winter. 



NUTHATCHES AND TITS. 

 This useful family is well represented here in woodland and 

 orchard by three common species, one Titmouse and two Nut- 

 hatches. The Hudsonian Titmouse is too rare to be of any 

 economic importance. The common Titmouse or Chickadee 

 is a well-known species that visits every village and farm. 

 The Nuthatches may be known by their short tails and their 

 habit of climbing about over the trunks and limbs of trees, 

 somewhat after the manner of Woodpeckers, except that they 

 do not use the tail as a support, as the Woodpeckers and 

 Creepers do, and that they often move about head downwards, 

 or suspend themselves in this manner, which Woodpeckers 

 seldom do. The name Nuthatch probably originated from 

 nuthack or nuthacker. It was first applied to the European 

 species because of its habit of cracking nuts or acorns, — 

 presumably for the kernel ; but the American species seem 

 to open nuts or acorns mainly for the insects that feed within. 

 In winter, however, these birds will eat the kernels of broken 

 nuts that are often put out for them by humane people. 

 They can scarcely be called song birds, but sometimes the 

 males twitter softly, as if attempting to whisper a song. 



Chickadee. Black-capped Titmouse. 



Penihestes atricapillus atricapillus. 



Length. — About five and one-quarter inches. 



Adult. — Top of head, nape, and throat hlack; sides of head and neck white; 



hack ashy ; breast white ; wing feathers and tail feathers margined with 



whitish ; belly and sides washed with creamy buff. 

 Jil'est. — Somietimes built in a natural hollow of some tree in the woods or 



orchard ; often placed in a cavity hollowed out by the birds themselves in 



a decayed birch or pine stump, and composed of moss, feathers, and other 



warm materials. 

 Eggs. — Usually six or seven, but sometimes even ten ; white, and finely spotted 



with reddish-brown or a paler shade. 

 Season. — Resident. 



The Chickadee remains in Massachusetts throughout the 

 year, but is usually more commonly seen in winter than in 



