“On seeing a cat, or other object of natural antipathy,” says Mr NUTTALL, “the Chickadee, like the peevish Jay, scolds in a loud, angry, and hoarse note, _’tshe_, _dáigh dáigh dáigh_. Among the other notes of this species, I have heard a call like _tshe-de-jay_, _tshe-de-jay_, the two first syllables being a slender chirp, with the _jay_ strongly pronounced. The only note of this bird which may be called a song, is one which is frequently heard at intervals in the depths of the forest, at times of day usually when all other birds are silent. We then may sometimes hear in the midst of this solitude two feeble, drawling, clearly whistled, and rather melancholy notes like _’te-dĕrry_, and sometimes _ye-pĕrrit_, and occasionally, but more rarely in the same wiry, whistling, solemn tone, _’phēbé_. The young in winter also sometimes drawl out these contemplative strains. In all cases the first syllable is very high and clear, the second word drops low, and ends like a feeble plaint. This is nearly all the quaint song ever attempted by the Chickadee. On fine days, about the commencement of October, I have heard the Chickadee sometimes, for half an hour at a time, attempt a lively, petulant warble, very different from his ordinary notes. On these occasions he appears to flirt about, still hunting for his prey, in an ecstacy of delight and vigour. But after a while the usual drawling note again occurs. These birds, like many others, are very subject to the attacks of vermin, and they accumulate in great numbers around that part of the head and front which is least accessible to their foot.” PARUS ATRICAPILLUS, _Linn._ Syst. Nat. vol. i. p. 341. PARUS ATRICAPILLUS, _Lath._ Ind. Ornith. vol. ii. p. 566. BLACK-CAPT TITMOUSE, PARUS ATRICAPILLUS, _Wils._ Amer. Ornith. vol. i. p. 134, pl. 8, fig. 4. PARUS ATRICAPILLUS, _Ch. Bonaparte_, Synopsis of Birds of United States, p. 100. BLACK-CAPT TITMOUSE, _Nuttall_, Manual, vol. ii. p. 241. Adult Male. Plate CCCLIII. Fig. 3. Bill short, straight, strong, compressed, rather obtuse; both mandibles with the dorsal line slightly convex, the sides sloping and convex, the edges sharp, that of the upper mandible slightly sinuate. Nostrils basal, roundish, concealed by the recumbent feathers. Head large, neck short, body robust. Feet of ordinary length, rather robust; tarsus compressed, with seven anterior scutella; toes large, the three anterior united as far as the second joint; the hind one much stronger, and with its claw nearly as long as the middle toe. Claws large, arched, much compressed, acute. Plumage blended, tufty; feathers of the head glossy. Wings of moderate length, the first quill scarcely half the length of the second, which is equal to the first secondary, the third and seventh about equal, the fourth and fifth equal and longest. Tail long, a little arched, emarginate and rounded, of twelve slender rounded feathers.