BLACK-CAPT TITMOUSE 



135 



tree, tumbling, chattering and hanging from the extremities of the 

 branches, examining about the roots of the leaves, buds, and ere* 

 vices of the bark for insects and their larvae. They also frequently 

 visit the orchards, particularly in Fall, the sides of the barn and 

 barn-yard in the same pursuit, trees in such situations being gene- 

 rally much infested with insects. We therefore with pleasure rank 

 this little bird among the farmer^s friends, and trust our rural citi- 

 zens will always recognize him as such. 



This species has a very extensive range ; it has been found on 

 the western coast of America as far north as lat. 62° ; it is common 

 at Hudson's bay, and most plentiful there during winter, as it then 

 approaches the settlements in quest of food. Protected by a re- 

 markably thick covering of long soft downy plumage, it braves the 

 severest cold of those northern regions. 



The Black-capt Titmouse is five inches and a half in length, 

 and six and a half in extent; throat and whole upper part of the 

 head and ridge of the neck black ; between these lies a triangular 

 patch of white ending at the nostril ; bill black and short, tongue 

 truncate ; rest of the upper parts lead colored or cinereous, slightly 

 tinged with brown, wings edged with white ; breast, belly and vent 

 yellowish white ; legs liglit blue ; eyes dark hazel. The male and 

 female are nearly alike. The figure in the plate renders any fur- 

 ther description unnecessary. 



The upper parts of the head of the young are for some time 

 of a dirty brownish tinge ; and in this state they agree so exactly 

 with the Parus Hudsonicus,^ described by Latham, as to afford 

 good grounds for suspecting them to be the same. 



These birds sometimes fight violently with each other, and 

 are known to attack young and sickly birds that are incapable of 

 resistance, always directing their blows against the scull. Being 

 in the woods one day, I followed a bird for some time, the singu- 



* Hudson Bay Titmouse, Synopsis II, 557. 



