696 MICHIGAN BIRD LITE. 
and hus recorded among the results some very interesting facts (Auk, 
XV, 145-155). He found that less than 40 percent of the food was vege- 
table, the remainder consisting of insects, while the stomachs of nine birds 
taken in spring contained nothing but insects. Among the seeds seaten 
were a few bits of oats, a single seed of the bitter-weed (Ambrosia) and 
a few other bits of vegetable matter. Eggs of bugs (hemiptera), together 
with some adults, formed by far the greater part of the winter food, with 
beetles and lepidoptera next. In the spring adult beetles and adult lepid- 
optera were more important. The number of plant-louse eggs was not 
so noticeable as we should have expected, but in four stomachs the scales 
of the oyster-shell bark-louse were found, the total number of scales being 
77, each of which had probably covered fifty or seventy-five eggs. 
In this connection we might add that twice during the spring of 1906 
the writer observed the Chickadee eating scale insects, once the elm scale 
(Chionaspis americanus) and again a species of Lecaniwm which is common 
on the basswood. In both cases the Chickadee was so intent upon his 
work that he refused to leave until approached within arm’s length, and 
then returned to finish his meal as soon as the intruder withdrew. It is 
more than probable that it eats to a greater or less extent all the common 
scale insects which occur on our forest trees and fruit trees, and Mr. E. 
H. Forbush, State Ornithologist of Massachusetts, has demonstrated by 
actual experiments that fruit trees to which the Chickadees are baited in 
winter are never attacked to any serious extent by the canker-worm, 
tent caterpillar, or other fruit tree pests which may ravage orchards in 
the immediate vicinity. By hanging up bones to which a little meat 
adheres, and here and there a bit of suet or fat fresh pork, these little birds 
may be attracted to any orchard during the cold weather and will come 
day after day for months, not only feasting upon the food so provided, 
but in the intervals gleaning from the branches and twigs of surrounding 
trees every insect and egg hidden there. - 
Normally the Chickadee nests in deserted woodpecker holes, cavities 
in decayed limbs or rails, or similar hollows in fence posts, but in many 
cases it has been induced to accept artificial nesting places, and occasionally 
it occupies bird boxes intended for wrens or Bluebirds. With a little 
forethought and care anyone might persuade the Chickadee to nest in 
his own orchard or garden, and by judicious feeding in winter might do 
much to protect his trees and shrubbery from some of the more serious 
insect pests. Frequently it digs the hole for its own nest, choosing a 
partly decayed stub or branch and pecking out the hole much as a wood- 
pecker does, but with infinitely more pains and patience. It is not able 
to excavate sound wood, but in wood which is just beginning to decay it 
often makes a very neat hole, which serves for a year or two. In the bot- 
tom of the hole it builds a very compact and nicely felted nest of fur of 
various kinds, feathers, moss, and cottony plant fibres, and lays from six 
to ten nearly white, brown-spotted eggs, which average .60 by .47 inches. 
The eggs are usually laid, in the southern part of the state, during the 
first half of May, and from one to three weeks later in the northern sections. 
The Chickadee is often said to rear two broods, but we have no data which 
warrant such an assertion. The bird escapes many of the enemies which 
pillage the nests of other species, but it must meet with misfortune occasion- 
ally and in such cases a second nest may be prepared and another attempt 
be made to raise a brood. 
