390 NUTIIATCIIES AND TITS.

735. Paras atricapillus (Liz/71.). ('niekani-zn. (See Fig. 57,6.) AnhiTop ot' the head, nape, and throat shining black; sides 01' the head and neck white; back ashy; outer vanes of greater wing-covcrts distinctly mar- gined with white; wine and tail»t'eathers margined with whitish; breast white; belly and sides washed with cream-bull. L., 5'27; W., 2'53; T., 2'43; 13., ‘37.

Ji’(uzg7e.——I‘iastcrn North America; breeds from southern Illinois and Penn- sylvania northward to Labrador, and southward along the Alleghunies to North Carolina; in winter migrates a short distance below the southern limit of its breeding range.

Washington, rare and irregular W. V., Dee. to Api. 15. Sing Sing, toler- ably common I’. It. Cambridge, very common I’. It, more numerous in fall and winter.

Nest, of moss, grasses. feathers, and plant down. in old stumps, holes in trees, etc., not more than tit'tecn feet up. Eggs. five to eight, white, spotted and speckled, chiefly at the larger end, with cinnamon- or ruf‘ous—brown, '60 x ‘48.

When most birds were strangers to me, I remember thinking what a blessing it would be it' every one spoke his name as plainly as does this animated bunch of black and white feathers. No need of a text- book to discover his name: with winning confidence he introduced himself, and probably for this reason he has always been my best friend among birds. I never 3 _’_ t ., ,_

hear his voice in the woods : 77?} or gg:3 without answering him: -——“'

Soon he comes to me. mildly inquisitive at first, looking about for the friend or foe. whose call has attracted him. In an unconcerned way he hops from limb to limb, whistling softly the while, picking an in- sect’s egg from beneath a leaf here or larva from a crevice in the bark there. all the time performing acrobatic feats of which an accom- plished gymnast might be proud. Finally his curiosity becomes aroused, he ceases feeding, and gives his entire attention to the dis- covery of the bird who so regularly replies to him. Hopping down to a limb within three feet of my head. he regards me with puzzled in— tentness; his little black eyes twinkle with intelligence, he changes his call. and questions me with a series of chided-c1653, liquid gurgles, and odd chuckling notes which it is beyond my power to answer, and finally, becoming discouraged, he refuses to renew our whistled ccn- versation and retreats to the woods. .

On two occasions (‘hiekadees have. flown down and perched upon my hand. During the few seconds they remained there i became rigid with the emotion of this novel experience. It was a mark of con- fidence which seemed to initiate me into the ranks of woodland dwellers.