Part 53

CAROLINA CHICKADEE

Penthestes carolinensis carolinensis. Case 4, Fig. 68

Smaller than the Black-cap; without white margins on the wing-coverts. L. 4-1/2.

Range. Southeastern United States, north to northern New Jersey and central Missouri. The south Florida form (P. c. impiger) is slightly smaller and darker.

Washington, very common P.R., particularly in winter.

Whether because of a different temperament or because milder winters make him less dependent on man's bounty, the Carolina Chickadee does not show that unquestioning confidence in our good faith which makes the Black-cap so dear to us.

The chick-a-dee note is less clearly and more hurriedly given by the Carolina, and the pe-wee whistle is not so loud and usually consists of four notes instead of two. The nesting habits and eggs of the two species are alike, but the southern bird begins to lay in March.

BROWN-CAPPED CHICKADEE

Penthestes hudsonicus

Similar to the Black-cap but crown dark brown; back brownish ashy.

Range. Northern New England and Canada; rarely further south in winter. Represented by three races: the Acadian Brown-capped Chickadee (P. h. littoralis) of northern New England, New Brunswick. Nova Scotia and Newfoundland; the Labrador Brown-capped Chickadee (P. h. nigricans) of Labrador, and the Hudsonian Brown-capped Chickadee (P. h. hudsonicus) of the region west of Hudson Bay.

Until recent years the Brown-capped Chickadee was rarely seen far south of its breeding range, but during several winters it has invaded New England in considerable numbers and has been found in the lower Hudson Valley, Long Island, Staten Island and northern New Jersey. At close range an experienced observer may know it by its dark brown head, while Brewster states that its "nasal, drawling, tchick, chee-day-day" at once distinguishes it from the Black-cap. All three races have been reported in these winter migrations and only expert examination of specimens can determine whether the little wanderer is from Labrador, New Brunswick, or the country west of Hudson Bay.

OLD-WORLD WARBLERS, KINGLETS AND GNATCATCHERS. FAMILY SYLVIIDÆ

GOLDEN-CROWNED KINGLET

Regulus satrapa satrapa. Case 2, Figs. 62, 63; Case 4, Figs. 72, 73

Very small, olive-green birds with a flame and yellow crown-patch in the male and a yellow crown-patch in the female. L. 4.

Range. Nests from northern New England northward and, in the Alleghanies, south to North Carolina.

Washington, abundant W.V., Sept. 30-Apl. 27. Ossining, common W.V., Sept. 20-Apl. 28. Cambridge, very common T.V., not uncommon W.V., Sept. 25-Apl. 20. N. Ohio, common W.V., Sept. 26-May 4. Glen Ellyn, common T.V., irregular W.V., Sept. 19-May 8. SE. Minn., common T.V., Mch. 30-; Sept. 21-Dec. 1.

It is surprising, in the depth of winter, when in great coat and muffler we keep warm only by vigorous exercise, to see these dainty, feathered mites, unconcerned by the temperature, flitting here and there in their search for insects' eggs and larvæ. They have small fear of man and we may readily approach near enough to hear their thin ti-ti or see their golden-crown. In proportion to its size, this diminutive species lays a larger number of eggs than any other of our birds, as many as 9 or 10 white, brown-marked eggs being laid in their pensile, mossy nest in the latter part of May.

RUBY-CROWNED KINGLET

Regulus calendula calendula. Case 4. Figs. 70, 71; Case 5. Figs. 36, 37

A white eye-ring; two whitish wing-bars, no white in the tail; adult male with a ruby crown-patch; absent in females and young. L. 4-1/2.

Range. Nests chiefly north of the United States; winters from Virginia and Iowa southward.

Washington, abundant T.V., Apl. 12-May 15; Sept. 25-Nov. 1; occasionally winters. Ossining, common T.V., Apl. 8-May 13; Sept. 16-Nov. 3. Cambridge, rather common T.V., Apl. 12-May 5; Oct. 10-30. N. Ohio, common T.V., Apl, 1-May 23; Sept. 9-Nov. 3. Glen Ellyn, fairly common T.V., Mch. 22-May 19; Sept. 9-Oct. 27. SE. Minn., Mch. 12-; Sept. 18-Oct. 24.

A tiny, olive-green bird, with a large white eye-ring, fluttering actively among the yellowing leaves, uttering from time to time a wren-like cack as he twitches his wings and showing little or no fear of man can be only the Ruby-crown, southward bound. He returns before the trees are clad, as the author of a song as marvelous in volume as it is musical in tone; a whistled song of rare sweetness.

BLUE-GRAY GNATCATCHER

Polioptila cærulea cærulea. Case 4. Fig. 69

A slender, gray mite with a comparatively long tail of which the central feathers are black, the outer ones white. L. 4-1/2.