A YEAR WITH THE BIRDS 
587 
edgings. Breast and under parts yellowish gray. Edges of eye- 
lids white. Bill black, feet dark brown. 
Female: Lacking the red head spot. 
Song: A thin, metallic call note, like a vibrating wire. Song full, 
varied, and melodious ; often heard here in the spring migration. 
Season: In the migrations April-May and October-November. 
Breeds: Mostly north of the United States. 
In late autumn, even after a light November snow, these 
cheery, sociable, little birds come prying and peering about 
the orchard or garden fruit trees, examining every twig or 
nook which may conceal insects with profound interest. 
They remain at the most only a few weeks, but make us a 
similar visit in April on the return trip. I only know its 
call note, though its full song is often heard in the spring 
migration, and is said to be rich and sweet. Mr. Nehrling, 
who has heard it sing in central Wisconsin and northern 
Illinois, speaks of the “ power, purity, and volume of the 
notes, their faultless modulation and long continuance.” Dr. 
Coues says of it, “ The Kinglet’s exquisite vocalization defies 
description.” 
Family Paridae: Nuthatches and Titmice 
Chickadee; Black-capped Titmouse: Parus atricapillus. R. 
Plate I Fig. 1 
Length: 5.50 inches. 
Male and Female: No crest. Above gray with a brownish tinge. 
Crown and nape and chin and throat black; sides of head white. 
Below white, shading to light gray with brown wash. Wings 
and tail gray with white edgings. Bill and feet lead-black. 
Song: Cheerful, conversational. “Chickadee-dee-dee-dee!” varied in 
winter with “ Day, day, day ! ” and a whistle “ Pe-we, pe-we.” 
Season: A resident. 
Nest: Made of all sorts of soft material — wool, fur, feathers, and 
hair, placed in holes in tree stumps. 
Eggs: 6-8, white, thickly sprinkled with warm brown. 
This hardy little fellow, always cheery and lovable, is a 
familiar figure in our light woods and garden trees in autumn 
and winter, seeming, by his good-nature and energy, to be 
trying to console us, in a measure, for the loss of the tree- 
haunting summer Warblers. 
The Chickadee adapts himself to all surroundings and to 
all circumstances, suiting his appetite to what he can find ; 
