148 SINGING BIRDS, 



crevice of the bark, and searching around the roots and in 

 every possible retreat of their insect prey or its larvae. If the 

 object chance to fall, they industriously descend to the ground 

 and glean it up with the utmost economy. 



On seeing a cat or other object of natural antipathy, the 

 Chickadee, like the peevish Jay, scolds in a loud, angry, and 

 hoarse note, like 'tshe ddigh ddigh ddigh. Among the other 

 notes of this species I have heard a call like tshe-de-jay, tshe- 

 de-jay, the two first syllables being a slender chirp, with the/oj' 

 strongly pronounced. Almost the only note of this bird which 

 may be called a song is one which is frequently heard at inter- 

 vals in the depth of the forest, at times of the day usually when 

 all other birds are silent. We then may sometimes hear in the 

 midst of this solitude two feeble, drawling, clearly whistled, and 

 rather melancholy notes, like 'te-derry, and sometimes 'ye- 

 perrit, and occasionally, but much more rarely, in the same 

 wiry, whistling, solemn tone, ^pehbL The young, in winter, also 

 sometimes drawl out these contemplative strains. In all cases 

 the first syllable is very high and clear, the second word drops 

 low and ends like a feeble plaint. This is nearly all the quaint 

 song ever attempted by the Chickadee, and is perhaps the two 

 notes sounding like the whetting of a saw, remarked of the 

 Marsh Titmouse in England by Mr. White, in his " Natural 

 History of Selborne." On fine days, about the commencement 

 of October, I have heard the Chickadee sometimes for half an 

 hour at a time attempt a lively, petulant warble very different 

 from his ordinary notes. On these occasions he appears to 

 flit about, still hunting for his prey, but almost in an ecstasy of 

 delight and vigor. But after a while the usual drawling note 

 again occurs. These birds, like many others, are very subject 

 to the attacks of vermin, and they accumulate in great numbers 

 around that part of the head and front which is least accessible 

 to their feet. 



The European bird, so very similar to ours, is partial to 

 marshy situations. Ours has no such predilection, nor do the 

 American ones, that I can learn, ever lay up or hide any store 

 of seeds for provision, — a habit reported of the foreign family. 



