FAMILY XIII. 
AGITUAZI, Vmi,L. 
GENUS XXIX. — PAItUSf Linnjeus. 
131. rJBra ATBICAFJLLUS, LlNNiEUS AND WILSON. 
BLACK-C.\1T TITMOUSE. 
MTLSON, PLATE TUI. PIG. IV. 
f '^His is one of onr resident birds, active, noi.sy, and 
J^tless; hardy beyond any of his size, braving the 
^ 'merest cold of our continent as far north as the 
^®’'ntry round Hudson’s Bay, and always appearing 
^ *'st lively in the coldest weather. The males have a 
Ij^icty of very sprightly notes, which cannot, indeed. 
called a song, but rather a lively, frequently repeated. 
They are most itsiially seen 
often varied twitter. 
Uf' • 
the fall and winter, when they leave the depths 
woods, and approach nearer to the scenes of 
j^^nivation. At such seasons they abound among ever- 
^j®cns, feeding on the seeds of the pine tree; they are 
fond of sunflower seeds, and associate in parties of 
n*> eight, or more, attended by the Carolina nuthatch, 
llOi 
ted-bellied bl.ick-capt nuthatch, the crested tit- 
^1*1180, brown creeper, and small spotted woodpecker; 
whole forming a very nimble and restless company, 
tfu ® food, manners, and dispositions are pretty much 
jP®- About the middle of April they begin to build, 
ji'^esing the de.serted hole of a squirrel or wood- 
Oi'ii sometimes, with incredible labour, digging 
^ one for themselves. The female lays .six white 
marked with minute specks of red ; the first brood 
^Pear about the beginning of June, and the second to- 
. ^cds the end of July ; the whole of the family continue 
®®sociate together during winter. They traverse the 
