1896 
October 31 
We had walked out over the old cart path to Birch 
Island and were standing by the boat landing there, looking- 
for C-rebes, when suddenly the emphatic chip , cher-dee , dee 
of a Hudson's Bay Titmouse rang out on the still air 
directly behind us,and was immediately repeated. Turning 
and looking upward, we saw the bird swaying on the topmost 
twig of a. birch within twenty yards or less. It was quite 
alone and, indeed, there were no other birds of any kind 
at the time on this small and scantily-wooded meadow 
island. Probably it had only just come across the meadows 
and had alighted merely to rest for a moment, for I had 
only just time to tell Bartlett what it was when it started 
again and made off over the river, heading at first for 
the Bedford shore but finally turning to the right and 
disappearing among the pines on Davis's Hill. Feeling 
nearly sure that it would join the little mixed flock 
which we had left there half an hour before, we hurried 
back. Our birds were still busily at work among the 
fallen leaves but although we followed them about for a 
long time and repeatedly passed them in review under our 
glasses, we fad led to discover the hudsonicus among them. 
I fancy that he kept straight on through or past them 
as, indeed, he must have done through or near many a 
similar flock since leaving his home in the North. His 
course during the snort time we had him in sight was due 
south and he was probably actually migrating at the time. 
