NOTES ON NORTH CAROLINA BIRDS — WETMORE 505 



lands. Specimens were obtained as follows: Murphy, June 14; at 

 5,000 and 5,100 feet on Rocky Bald; 12 miles west of Franklin, June 

 23 and 26; Statesville, September 29 and October 5; Wadesboro, May 

 29; Roseboro, May 2; Clinton, May 1 ; Bethel, October 30 and Novem- 

 ber 1; South Mills, April 14 and 24; and Southport, May 10 and 12. 

 It was observed at 4,8*00 feet on Elk Knob, 7 miles north of Boone 

 on July 12 and at 4,600 feet on Three Top ^Mountain, 2 miles south 

 of Creston on July 13. 



Family SITTIDAE 



SITTA CAROLINENSIS CAROLINENSIS Latham: White-breasted Nuthatch 



Through North Carolina there is a definite area of intergradation 

 between the northern and southern races of this widely distributed 

 bird, of which the northern form is paler dorsally and slightly larger 

 and the southern one darker and a little smaller. In addition the 

 female of typical carolinensk has the black of the crown partly con- 

 cealed by an edging of gray, a marking most evident in fall and winter 

 as in occasional individuals in spring and summer this disappears. 

 In the southern bird the crown is definitely black in both sexes. 



Birds from the northern section of the State belong definitely with 

 the northern form, though in some there is more or less indication 

 of intergradation. Birds ascribed to the northern subspecies were 

 taken as follows : Hogan Creek, 7 miles northeast of Reidsville, Sep- 

 tember 18 (male somewhat darker, female with crown distinctly 

 gray) ; 6 miles northwest of Greenville, November 8; Conetoe Creek, 

 7 miles northwest of Bethel, October 30 (somewhat intermediate) ; 

 Gliden, April 25 ; Dismal Swamp area, 7 miles west of South Mills, 

 April 14 and 17 (male and female, both intermediate). 



SITTA CAROLINENSIS ATKINSI Scott: Florida Nuthatch 



The southern form is represented by skins from the southern 

 section of the State, some of which, again, are more or less inter- 

 mediate. In a pair taken 8 miles southwest of Murphy, June 13, at 

 an elevation of 1,450 feet the male is definitely intermediate in color 

 and a little large (wing 89.2 mm.), while the female is duller gray 

 and has the crown black. A male and a female taken at 4.100 feet on 

 Standing Indian Mountain, 15 miles east of Hayesville are also inter- 

 mediate in depth of gi'ay color, but here again the female has a black 

 head. A pair from 7 miles southeast of Rockingham, May 31, seem 

 to belong more definitely with the southern bird, as do an adult male 

 and a juvenile female from near Roseboro, taken on May 5. 



The range of the two subspecies remains to be worked out in detail. 

 Undoubtedly many specimens will be found that can be allocated only 

 arbitrarily. 



