Nests in Holes in Trees, Stumps, or Logs 



The nest, simply a collection of short hair, moss, leaves, 

 and strips of bark, is placed most frequently in a deserted wood- 

 pecker's hole, or in a natural cavity in a tree, usually one that is 

 dead. 4 to 8 eggs are laid ; they are white or creamy, with 

 large spots and specks of reddish and purplish brown, chiefly at 

 the larger end. Size — .74 x .52. 



These delightful little birds may be seen in the somewhat 

 damp woods, usually in company with the ever-busy chickadee. 

 They breed in April. 



735. Chickadee: Parus atricapillus Linn. 



AduU— Upper part of head and nape black ; back gray ; under 

 parts, throat black, breast white, shading into grayish or 

 buff on the sides and belly. Length — 3.27. 



Breeding Range — " From southern Illinois and Pennsylvania north- 

 ward to Labrador, and southward along the Alleghanies to 

 North Carolina " (Chapman). 



The nest is made of moss, feathers, wool, plant fibre, fur, 

 and sometimes entirely of short hairs. It is placed in a hole 

 which may be either a natural cavity, a deserted woodpecker's 

 nest, or made by themselves ; in the latter event they choose a 

 decayed tree, by preference the white birch. The hole is seldom 

 more than seventeen feet from the ground. The eggs number 

 from 5 to 8 ; they are white, sparsely marked with light brown, 

 purplish, and lilac spots and specks, chiefly at the larger end. 

 Size — .57 X .47. See Fig. 19, Plate C. 



These little acrobats of the forest, with their cheerful notes 

 and confidential manners, are among the most delightful of our 

 bird friends; they have but little fear of man, and their restless 

 hopping from bough to bough, standing one moment on the 

 twig and the ne.xt moment turning over and hanging beneath 

 it, ever seaching for food, and uttering at intervals that note 

 so peculiar to themselves, is a constant source of interest and 

 amusement to the onlooker. The eggs may be found from 

 about the middle of May, near New York. Damp woods and 

 woodland swamps or ponds are the localities to which they 

 retire during the nesting season. The young resemble the adult 

 birds. 



Ill 



