WHITE-BREASTED AMERICAN NUTHATCH. 581 



half closed by a membrane, and partly hid in the advancing bristly 

 feathers of the face. The tongue short, wide at the base, with a 

 torn notch at the indurated tip. Feet robust ; hind toe stout and 

 long, with a strong, hooked, and sharp nail. Wings moderate ; spurious 

 feather short, the 2d, 3d, and 4th primaries longest. Tail rather short, 

 of 12 feathers, even, or slightly rounded, with the shafts only of ordi- 

 nary strength. 



The sexes are similar, the young scarcely differing'from the adult ; 

 and with the moult annual. These are generally hardy birds, dwell- 

 ing in woods, and climbing the trunks and branches of trees as well 

 down as up, practising the. reverted postures of the Titmouse and the 

 Certhias, being more agile and ambulatory than the Woodpeckers. 

 They generally live on insects, but sometimes perforate nuts by re- 

 peated blows or hatchings, as well as the kernels of hard fruits, with 

 the bill. They build in the hollows of trees, rearing a numerous 

 brood ; and inhabit cold and temperate countries. 



WHITE-BREASTED AMERICAN NUTHATCH. 



{Sitta carolinensis, Briss. Wilson, i. p. 40. pi. 2. fig. 3. Phil. 

 Museum, No. 2036.) 



Sp. Charact. — Lead-color; head and neck above black; beneath 

 pure white ; vent tinged with ferruginous ; lateral tail-feathers 

 black and white. — Young with the head plumbeous. 



This species, so nearly allied to the European Nut- 

 hatch, resides permanently throughout North America, 

 from Hudson's Bay to JMexico, appearing only more com- 

 mon and familiar at the approach of winter, in conse- 

 quence of the failure of its food in its favorite sylvan re- 

 treats, v/hich it now often forsakes for the open fields, 

 orchards, or gardens, where, in pairs, or small and some- 

 times contending parties, they cautiously glean a tran- 

 sient means of subsistence, and wander from place to 

 place as the supply diminishes. At the welcome return, 

 however, of the month of April, with the revival and re- 

 newal of its insect fare, the Nuthatch becomes more do- 

 mestic ; and retiring into the forest with its mate, it pre- 

 49* 



