STATE GEOLOGIST. 
375 
For the purpose of showing at a glance the manner of their oc- 
cmtnce, our winter birds may be divided into groups somewhat as 
follows: First — Permanent residents, or those birds found in the 
State the year round; Second — Winter visitants, including such 
birds as come into the State from the north to pass the winter sea¬ 
son ; 'Third — What might be called, adopting a florist’s term, “Half- 
hardy species,” embracing those birds found regularly during mild 
winters or which appear during mild weather in the latter part of 
January and in February; and lastly, a few species that are purely 
accidental. 
In the following lists, the species belonging to each of these 
groups are given in their natural order. It should be said, how¬ 
ever, that in the case of two or three species the positions they 
hold are only provisional; as for example it is quite possible that 
both the hawk, owl and goshawk may breed in the northern part 
of the state, in which case they should be placed among the per¬ 
manent residents instead of' with the winter residents as below. 
PERMANENT .RESIDENTS. 
1. Parus atricapillus, (Linn.) (Buack-cai'I’ED Chickadee.) —A common, 
cheery little bird found almost everywhere, and known by sight 
and name to nearly every one who notices birds at all. They spend 
the winter in small companies which rove through the woods and 
thickets and not infrequently appear in the very centers of our cities 
and towns. The severest cold seems only to increase, if possible, their 
activity and bustle. 
‘1. Sitta caroliaensis, {Lath.) Wthte-Beelied Nuthatch.)— A 
small, bluish, black-capped, white-bellied bird sometimes, though in¬ 
correctly, called “sapsueker." In common with the following species 
it spends its time creeping over the limbs and trunks of trees in search 
of food, wood-peeker-hke, and so .is often regarded as a small member 
of that family. It is not, however, related to the woodpeckers, and 
even its scansorial habits it will be found by a close observer to differ 
very much from those birds. The nuthatch is a common bird, of con¬ 
fiding and familiar habits and may be seen regularly about our 
streets and yards as well as in more retired localities. They are 
almost always in pairs and apparently remain constant throughout the 
year. 
3. Sitta canadensis. Linn. Red-Beei.ied Nuthatch. — Smaller than 
the last and rusty colored beneath. Seldom found in winter in the 
southern part of the state where, however, it is frequent in fall and 
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