486 



NESTS AND EGGS OF 



ground, and contained five or six young and one addled egg, which was dull, un- 

 spotted, chalky-white. Dr. Elliott Coues makes note of two white unmarked eggs 

 of this species, taken by William G. Smith, in Colorado. Dr. Merrill says that this 

 species is perhaps the most common resident species at Ft. Klamath, Ore., and in winter 

 is seldom out of sight or hearing. Between May 25 and July 4, five nests containing 

 eggs were discovered in Woodpeckers' holes in aspen or pine stubs. The eggs were 

 five to eight iu number, and of the five sets two are entirely unspotted; in two, one or 

 two eggs are pure white, the others having faint, light brown spots, mostly at 



the larger end; In the other set two of 

 the eggs are -quite unmarked, but the 

 others have distinct reddish spots. He 

 states that the female birds sit very 

 J close, and when disturbed keep up a 

 constant hissing, so much like that of 

 some snakes that no prudent squirrel 

 would venture to enter the hole. The 

 eggs have an average size of .60x.41 

 inches. 



^39. Siberian Chickadbe (From Turner.) 



739. SIBKBIAN CHICKADEE. 



Purus ductus ohtectus (Cab.) Geog. 

 Dist. — Eastern Siberia and Northern 

 Alaska. , 



An inhabitant of Eastern Siberia and northern portions of Alaska. Its habits, 

 nesting and eggs are similar to those of P. gamheli. Eggs, .65x.50. 



740. HUDSONIAIT CHICKADEE. Parus hudsoiiicus Forst. Geog. Dist.— 

 Northern North America east of the Rocky Mountains, south to the more ele- 

 vated portions of the United States — New England, New 

 York, Northern Michigan, etc. 



The Hudsonian Chickadee is resident in Labrador 

 and the Hudson Bay region. It is given as a resident of 

 Northern New England, and breeds on the Island of 

 Grand Manan, New Brunswick. Audubon fouiid a nest 

 of this Chickadee in Labrador, built in a decayed stump 

 about three feet from the ground and composed entirely 

 of the finest of fur of various quadrupeds, chiefly of the 

 northern hare, and air so thickly and ingeniously matted 

 throughout as to seem as if felted by the hand of man. 

 Mr. Montague Chamberlain mentions several nests that 

 were found in New Brunswick, one of which was built in 

 a cavity of a telegraph pole and others built in decayed 

 stumps. He says that when this species is excavating for 

 its nest it sometimes enters from the side of a tree and 

 not invariably from the top of a stump. Mr. James W. 

 Banks, during the seasons of 1885 and 1886, discovered 

 three nests, the entrances of which were at the side of a 

 decayed stump. One of these nests is about two inches 

 deep and is set on a cushion of dried moss, and besides the felted fur there is con- 

 siderable dry moss mixed throughout. The entrance was about six inches from the 

 top of the nest. The eggs are Usually six or seven in number. The ground-color 



7W, 



BVDSONIAN CHICKADEB 



(From Tnrner.) 



