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 SYLVIIDAE

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 larvae. They have small fear of man and we
may readily approach near enough to hear