OUR HOME BIJtDS. 
265 
They also frequently visit the orchards, particularly 
in the autumn, and examine the sides of the bam 
and barnyard with the same intention, trees in such 
places being generally full of insects. 
“ Of the ‘ manners and disposition ’ of the chick- 
adees nothing very favorable can be said, as they 
often fight violently with each other, and are known 
to attack young and sickly birds that are not able 
to defend themselves ; and their blows are said to be 
always aimed at the skull. Wilson says Being in 
the woods one day, I followed a bird for some time, 
the singularity of whose notes surprised me. Hav- 
ing shot him off from the top of a very tall tree, I 
found it to be the black-headed titmouse, with a 
long and deep indentation in the cranium, the skull 
having been evidently, at some former time, driven 
in and fractured, but was now perfectly healed. 
Whether or not the change of voice could be 
owing to this circumstance I cannot pretend to 
decide.’ 
“ The chickadee builds its nest in a hole, some- 
times with great labor dug out by itself and oftener 
choosing the deserted residence of a squirrel or wood- 
pecker. There are six white eggs, marked with very 
small specks of red. 
“ With such a large family he is very busy through 
the whole day in capturing vast quantities of cater- 
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