BLACK-CAP TITMOUSE. 147 
Marsh Titmouse of Europe, P. palustris, it differs from that species not 
only in colour, but more especially in its habits and notes. 
Hardy, smart, restless, industrious, and frugal, the ’Black-cap Titmouse 
ranges through the forest during the summer, and retiring to its more 
secluded parts, as if to ensure a greater degree of quiet, it usually breeds 
there. Numerous eggs produce a numerous progeny, and as soon as the first 
brood has been reared, the young range hither and thither in a body, search- 
ing for food, while their parents, intent on forming another family, remain 
concealed and almost silent, laying their eggs im the hole deserted by some 
small W oodpecker, or forming one for themselves. As it has been my 
fortune to witness a pair at this work, I will here state what occurred, not- 
withstanding the opinion of those who inform us that the bill of a Titmouse 
Is “ not shaped for digging.” While seated one morning under a crab-apple 
tree (very hard wood, reader), I saw two Black-cap Titmice fluttering about 
in great concern, as if anxious to see me depart. By their manners indeed 
I was induced to believe that their nest was near, and, anxious to observe 
their proceedings, I removed to the distance of about twenty paces. The 
birds now became silent, alighted on the apple-tree, gradually moved 
towards the base of one of its large branches, and one of them disappeared 
in what I then supposed to be the hole of some small Woodpecker; but I 
saw it presently on the edge, with a small chip in its bill, and again 
cautiously approached the tree. When three or four yards off I distinctly 
heard the peckings or taps of the industrious worker within, and saw it 
come to the mouth of the hole and return many times in succession in the 
course of half an hour, after which I got up and examined the mansion. 
The hole was about three inches deep, and dug obliquely downward from 
the aperture, which was just large enough to admit the bird. I had observed 
both sexes at this labour, and left the spot perfectly satisfied as to their 
power of boring a nest for themselves. 
The Black-cap Titmouse, or Chickadee, as it is generally named in our 
Eastern States, though exceedingly shy in summer or during the breeding 
season, becomes quite familiar in winter, although it never ventures to enter 
the habitations of man ; but in the most boisterous weather, requiring 
neither food nor shelter there, it may be seen amidst the snow in the rugged 
paths of the cheerless woods, where it welcomes the traveller or the wood' 
cutter with a confidence and cheerfulness far surpassing the well-known 
familiarity of the Robin Redbreast of Europe. Often, on such occasions, 
should you offer it, no matter how small a portion of your fare, it alights 
without hesitation, and devours it without manifesting any apprehension. 
The sound of an axe in the woods is sufficient to bring forth several of these 
busy creatures, and having discovered the woodman, they seem to find 
