OUR BIRDS IN WINTER. 
83 
The birds moved briskly among the branches, 
hanging sometimes head downwards, peering 
in the crevices in the bark, and pecking the 
moss from the limbs, among which were lurk- 
ing the injurious grubs, or hidden the eggs of 
moths, that in early spring would hatch into 
caterpillars. 
The movements of the birds were accom- 
panied at quick intervals by cheerful scraps 
of song, and the whole band was altogether as 
merry a one as could be well gathered together 
at once. When I say that nearly all these 
birds were of a brown and slate color on the 
back, and of a fawn color and white beneath, 
each with a black cap that enveloped its whole 
head, and with black intelligent eyes, that were 
constantly moving about, sparkling with genu- 
ine good nature and vivacity, my readers will 
doubtless recognize at once those familiar birds, 
the chick-a-dees. 
The remainder of the party, that were not 
clothed in this manner, were of a light green- 
ish olive above, and yellowish white beneath, 
with a crown of fiery yellow feathers on their 
