: AVES. 339 
known to almost every child, and shows as much confidence in man by 
associating with him in summer, as the other by his familiarity in winter. 
He is also of a mild and peaceful disposition, seldom fighting or quarrelling 
with other birds. 
“Towards fall, that is in the month of October, his song changes to a 
single plaintive note as he passes over the yellow many-colored woods, and 
its melancholy air recalls to our minds the approaching decay of the face 
of nature. Even after the trees are stripped of their leaves, he still lingers 
over his native fields as if loth to leave them. 
“Indeed he appears scarcely ever totally to forsake us, but to follow fair 
weather through all its journeyings till the return of spring.” 
There are two other species of blue birds, one of which is found in 
California and other countries of Western America, and the other in the 
countries of North-western America. They both bear a general resem- 
blance to Sialia wilsoni. 
About one hundred birds belong to this sub-family, which inhabit all 
parts of the world, and are generally pretty and cheerful little birds, more 
or less similar to the American blue-bird and the European robin. 
Sub-fam. 4. Accentorine, or Hedge Warblers. Bill short, straight, 
sometimes conical, sides compressed towards the tip; wings more or less 
long, pointed, sometimes rounded; tail moderate; tarsi and feet rather 
long, claws strong. 
The most familiar of these birds are the hedge sparrow (Accentor 
modularis) and the Alpine warbler (A. alpinus), both common European 
birds. 
Other birds of this sub-family are found in all parts of the world, but are 
most numerous in Australia. The species of this continent constitute the 
genus Acanthiza, and are represented as usually observed in the lower 
branches of trees, in the bushes, and on the ground, and possessing 
yenerally the characters and general history of insect-eating birds. 
Sub-fam. 5. Paring, or Tits. Bills rather short, strong, sometimes 
conical and straight; wings moderate or short; tail generally long, 
rounded ; tarsi and feet rather long. Size small. 
A sub-family of birds universally known as tits or titmice, and found all 
over the world. 
The most common American species is the crested tit (Parus bicolor), 
which is a constant resident in all parts of the United States, and distin- 
guished for the promptness with which he pipes out his few but musical 
notes on the very first days of fine weather in spring. Notwithstanding 
his plain plumage he is an exceedingly graceful and in fact elegant little 
bird, and very quick and rather eccentric in his actions. 
Several other species of crested tits have been discovered within the 
limits of the United States. The plain tit (P. inornatus) was discovered 
by Dr. Gambel in the Rocky Mountains; two others, the black-crested tit 
(P. atricristatus) and the Texan tit (P. annexus), were discovered by Mr. 
John Audubon (son of the celebrated ornithologist) in Texas. 
The black-capped tits (not crested) seem to form a distinct genus. The 
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