64 LAND-BIRDS AXD GAME-BIRDS 



(Common here, in spring and autumn, in certain localities. 

 In Massachusetts a few pass the summer, and a few the winter.) 



(a). About six inches long. Above, ashy blue. Outer tail- 

 feathers, black witn white patches. Wings marked with the 

 same colors. Under tail-coverts tinged with " rusty." Other 

 under parts and sides of the head (even above the eyes), white. 

 Croicn and nope, black (in young and $ s, impure, restricted, 

 or wanting). 



(6). The nest and eggs correspond closely to those of the 

 chickadee (§ 4, 1, A, b), but the latter are larger, averaging '80 

 X "60 of an inch, and are rather coarsely spotted with (reddish-) 

 brown and purplish. Four or five are said to constitute the 

 usual set, but at what time they are laid in Massachusetts I 

 am uncertain. 



(c). The White-bellied Nuthatches are abundant in but a 

 few parts of New England. In Eastern Massachusetts they 

 are less rare in spring and autumn tlian in the other seasons ; 

 but onl}' a few breed or pass the winter here. As it seems to 

 be advisable to quote from Wilson a full description of some 

 bird's habits, to show the usual style of that author, I shall 

 here repeat his remarks about these birds. After describing 

 their appearance, their non-identity with the European Nut- 

 hatch, and their nest and eggs, he writes as follows : — 



" The male is exti'emely. attentive to the female while sitting, 

 supplying her regularly with sustenance, stopping frequently 

 at the mouth of tlie hole, calling and offering her what he has 

 brought, in the most endearing manner. Sometimes he seems 

 to stop merely to enquire how she is, and to lighten the tedious 

 moments with his soothing chatter. He seldom rambles far 

 from the spot, and when danger appears, regardless of his own 

 safety, he flies instantly to alarm her. When both are feeding 

 on the trunk of the same tree, or of adjoining ones, he is per- 

 petuall}'^ calling on her ; and from the momentary pause he 

 makes it is plain that he feels pleased to hear her reply. 



" The White-breasted Nuthatch is common almost every 

 where in the woods of North America ; and may be known at 

 a distance by the notes quank, quank, frequentlj' repeated, as 



