SITTA. 61 
Am. B.1. p. 88°; Sumichrast, Mem. Bost. Soc. N. H.1. p. 5444; Baird, Brew. & Ridgw. N. 
Am. B. i. p. 120°; Coues, B. Col. Vall. i. p. 139°. 
Supra ceeruleo-plumbea, capite summo et nucha laterali brunnescentibus, loris et regione parotica paulo obscu- 
rioribus, macula nuchali media alba; subtus sordide alba; alis nigris, secundariis intimis plumbeis, reliquis 
plumbeo limbatis, primariis tertio, quarto et quinto ad basin albis et horum pogonio externo partim albo 
limbatis ; rectricibus mediis dorso concoloribus, ad basin pro majore parte albis, reliquis nigris, duabus 
extimis utrinque fascia obliqua alba notatis et ceeruleo-plumbeo terminatis; rostro plumbeo-nigro, ad 
basin pallidiore ; pedibus nigrescentibus. Long. tota 3:7, alee 2°75, caude 1:4, rostri a rictu 0-7, tarsi 0°6. 
(Descr. exempl. ex Jalapa, Mexico. Mus. nostr.) 
Hab. Western N. America, from the Rocky Mountains to the Pacific °5—Mextico, Jalapa 
(de Oca?), Volcanoes of Orizaba and Popocatepetl (Sumichrast *). 
This small Nuthatch was originally described by Vigors from specimens obtained 
at Monterey during the voyage of H.M.S. ‘ Blossom,’ under the command of Captain 
Beechey!; and it has since been found to be very common in that locality and 
throughout the western slope of the Rocky Mountains, from Washington Territory to 
Southern California®. In Mexico it was found by de Oca?, who sent specimens from 
Jalapa, which were probably obtained at a higher elevation, as Prof. Sumichrast tells 
us‘ that it is an inhabitant of the alpine region, ascending to the extreme limits of 
vegetation on the volcanoes of Orizaba and Popocatepetl. The habits of S. pygmaa 
have been fully described by American writers®®; but nothing concerning it in 
Mexico has been recorded. 
Fam. CERTHIIDA. 
CERTHIA. 
Certhia, Linneus, Syst. Nat. i. p. 184 (1766). 
This small but peculiar genus contains five species*, whereof C. familiaris is by 
far the best known, having the widest range, being found throughout Europe and 
North America; for it would now seem that C. americana is not really separable from 
the Old-World bird. Three others are peculiar to the Himalayas, a fifth being found 
in Mexico and Guatemala, southward of which points we find no trace of the genus. 
1. Certhia mexicana. 
Certhia mexicana, Reich. Handb. spez. Orn. p. 266 (ex Licht. Mus. Ber.) ; Scl. P. Z. 8. 1856, p. 290’, 
1858, p. 297°, 1859, pp. 362, 372°; Baird, Rev. Am. B. i. p. 90°; Salv. Ibis, 1866, p. 190"; 
Sumichrast, Mem. Bost. Soc. N. H. i. p. 544°. 
Certhia familiaris, var. mexicana, Baird, Brew. & Ridgw. N. Am. B. i. p. 128°; Coues, B. Col. 
Vall. i. p. 146”. . . 7 
Supra obscure fusca ; capite summo, cervice postica et interscapulio albido striatis ; uropygio late castaneo ; alis 
nigro-brunneis, primariis et secundariis albido bisectis fasciam alarem formante, pogoniis externis apicem 
versus albido marginatis, et plumis omnibus cum tectricibus alarum albo punctatis ; subtus fusco-albida, 
gula fere alba, crisso rufescenti tincto ; rostri maxilla nigrescente, mandibula ad basin flavescente ; pedibus 
* Cf, Dresser, ‘ Birds of Europe.’ 
