TUFTED TITMOUSE. 
143 
hoar in the micldlG of Januaryj when at least the leafless trees 
and dark cloudy skies remind us of the coldest season^ the 
lively, cheering, varied pipe of this active and hardy bird, is 
particularly gratifying ; and though his voice on paper may ap- 
pear to present only a list of quaint articulations, yet the deli- 
cacy, energy, pathos, and variety of his simple song, like many 
other things in Nature, are far beyond the feeble power of 
description ] and if in these rude graphic outlines of the inim- 
itable music of birds I am able to draw a caricature sufficient 
to indicate the individual performer, I shall have attained all 
the object to be hoped for in an attempt at natural delineation. 
The notes of the Peto generally partake of the high, echo- 
ing, clear tone of the Baltimore Bird. Among his more extra- 
ordinary expressions I was struck with the call of whip-tom- 
ktlly kill}', and now and then 'whip tom killy, with occasionally 
some variation in the tone and expression, which was very 
lively and agreeable. The middle syllable (tom) was pro- 
nounced in a hollow reverberating tone. In a few minutes 
after the subject and its variations were finished, in the estima- 
tion of the musical performer, he suddenly twisted himself 
round the branch on which he had sat, with a variety of odd 
and fantastic motions ; and then, in a lower, hoarser, harsh 
voice, and in a peevish tone, exactly like that of the Jay and 
the Chickadee, went day-day-day-ddy, and day-ddy-ddy-day- 
ddit ; sometimes this loud note changed into one which be- 
came low and querulous. On some of these occasions he also 
called 'tshica dee-dee. The jarring call would then change 
occasionally into kai-tee-did did-dit-did. These peevish notes 
would often be uttered in anger at being approached ; and 
then again would perhaps be answered by some neighboring 
rival, against whom they appeared levelled in taunt and ridi- 
cule, being accompanied by extravagant gestures. 
Later in the season, in Tebruary, when in the lower part of 
Alabama the mild influence of spring began already to be felt, 
our favorite, as he gayly pursued the busy tribe of insects, now 
his principal food, called, as he vaulted restlessly from branch 
to branch, in an echoing rapid voice, at short intervals, petd- 
