PARID.E — THE TITMICE. 1]7 



Sitta carolinensis, var. aculeata, Cass. ^ 



SLENDER-BILLED NUTHATCH. 



Sitta aculeata, Cas.six, Pr. A. X. Sc. VI 11, Oct. 1S56, 254. — Baied, Birds X. Am. 1S58, 

 375, pi. x.vxiii, fig. 3 ; Review, S6. — CooPEE, Om. Cal. I, 1S70, 54. / Sitta caroli- 

 nensis, ScUiTEi:, P. Z. S. 1856, 293 (CordoTa) ; 1858, 300 (Oaxaca); 1859, 363 (Xalapa), 

 373 (Oaxaca). 



Sp. Char. Very similar to carolinensis ; hut upper .secondaries witli only obscure 

 blackish blotches, instead of sharply defined longitudinal spots of clear black. Bill slen- 

 derer and more attenuated. 



Hab. Western and Middle Provinces of the United States, south to Cordova, Mex, 

 Orizaba (Alpine reoions), Scmich. 



The characters given above express the essential differences between this 

 and the Eastern race of S. carolinensis. In the present form, the depth of the 

 bUl opposite its base is .14, the width .17, and .80 or more in length 

 from the forehead ; while these same measurements in var. carolinensis 

 are .17, .22, and .70. The obsolete character of the black spots on the 

 secondaries is a persistent feature in the var. aculeata. 



Habits. This bird chiefly differs from its eastern congener in its more 

 slender bill. There appears to be no difference in regard to their habits, at 

 least none have been noticed, and it is probable there is none other than 

 trivial changes caused by its opportunities of procuring food, and the kinds 

 upon which it subsists. It is supposed to be distributed throughout Western 

 Xorth America, from the British Possessions to Mexico, though Dr. Cooper 

 thinks that it is not a common bird south of San Francisco, and only to be 

 seen there in the colder months. It has been met with at San Diego in Feb- 

 ruar)-. He did not obsene any in the Coast Mountains, near Santa Cruz, 

 but northward they are numerous in the summer, frequenting chiefly the 

 groves of the deciduous oaks, creeping constantly about their trunks and 

 branches in search of insects, wliich they also occasionally seek on the roofs 

 and walls of houses. Their habits are similar to those of S. canorhn-^is, but 

 their movements are said to be slower, and theii' note is a single harsh call, 

 uttered occasionally, and responded to by their comrades. Dr. Cooper found 

 them quite common in Washington Territorj' and at Paget Sound. Dr. 

 Suckley also mentions their great abundance. 



Dr. Kennerly met with this species a hundred miles west of Albuquercjue, 

 Xew Me.xico, and quite abundant among the pines of the Sierra Madre. He 

 speaks of its note as being peculiar. 



Mr. J. EL Lord states that this species remained about Colville during the 

 winter, when the thermometer was 30° below zero. He also mentions that 

 he found them nesting, in June, in the branches of the tallest pine-trees, so 

 high up as to render the obtaining their eggs almost an impossibility. 



Mr, Pddgway found the Slender-billed Xuthatcli abimdaut, tliroughout the 



