d. Size .65 x .52. Data.--Huachuca Mountains,
Arizona, April 5, 1901. Nest in the natural cavity of a live oak, 12
feet from the ground; cavity lined with bark and feathers.

735. CHICKADEE. _Penthestes atricapillus atricapillus._

Range.--Eastern North America, breeding from the Middle and Central
States northward to Labrador; only migratory to a slight extent.

The Chickadee is too well known to need any description; suffice it to
say that they are the favorites, with everybody, among all the North
American birds. They breed in holes in trees in orchards or woods, and
also in bird boxes. I have found by far the greater number in decayed
birch stubs. They line the cavities with fine grasses and feathers, and
during May or June lay from five to eight white eggs, dotted with
reddish brown; size .55 x .45.

[Illustration 436: White.]
[Illustration: 733--734.]
[Illustration: White.]
[Illustration: White.]
[Illustration: Chickadee. Carolina Chickadee.]
[Illustration: left hand margin.]

Page 435

735a. LONG-TAILED CHICKADEE. _Penthestes ataricapillus septentrionalis._

Range.--Rocky Mountain region, north to British Columbia.

This variety is very similar to the last but has a slightly longer tail
and the colors are purer. Its nesting habits are the same and the eggs
are indistinguishable from those of the eastern Chickadee.

735b. OREGON CHICKADEE. _Penthestes atricapillus occidentalis._

Range.--Pacific coast from California to Alaska.

The habits and eggs of this slightly darker variety are just the same as
those of the common Chickadee of the east.

736. CAROLINA CHICKADEE. _Penthestes carolinensis carolinensis._

Range.--Southern United States from the Gulf to New Jersey and Illinois.

The southern Chickadee is smaller than the northern and the wing coverts
and feathers have little or no white edgings. Their nesting habits are
in every particular the same as those of _atricapillus_ and the eggs
cannot be distinguished with certainty, but average smaller; size .53 x
.43.

736a. PLUMBEOUS CHICKADEE. _Penthestes carolinensis agilis._

Range.--Eastern and central Texas.

This variety is said to be more plumbeous above and much whiter below
than the preceding. No differences can be found in the eggs of the two
varieties and the nesting habits are the same.

737. MEXICAN CHICKADEE. _Penthestes sclateri._

Range.--Mountains of western Mexico north to southern Arizona.

This species has the