1886.] PROCEEDINGS OF UNITED STATES NATIONAL MUSEUM. 393 



The following table is compiled from Captain Blakiston's notes and 

 gives the total length of 17 specimens as measured by him. 



Measurements by Captain Blakiston. 



Average total length of 17 specimens | 133 



Sitta amurensis albifrons (Taczan.). 



Kamtschatkan Nuthatch. 

 184(1. — Sitta sericea Temminck, Man. d'Orn. 2 ed., iv, p. 645 (part), 

 1858. — Sitta vralensis Kittlitz, Denkwurd. Reise, i, p. 321. 

 1882. — Sitta albifrons Taczanowski. Bull. Soc. Zool. France, 1882, p. 385. 



The specimen from the Kuril Islands, collected by Mr. Snow, which 

 I have referred to the form recently described by Mr. Taczanowski 

 as Sitta aJMfro7is, the type of which came from Kamtschatka, agrees so 

 precisely with the description given by the latter gentleman, that I have 

 no doubt as to the correctness of the identification. Compared with the 

 North European ISTuthatch it presents differences which would make it 

 an excellent species ; but alongside the two other Japanese forms it 

 proves itself only the northern link of the continuous chain which we 

 call S. amurensis. It differs as much, and in the same manner from the 

 subspecies of the latter called S. clara, as does the latter from the sup- 

 posed typical bird which inhabits Hondo. 



" Kuril Islands " is a rather vague locality, and it is to be hoped 

 that we may soon get more precise information in regard to the exact 

 habitat. More specimens are highly desirable. 



Measurements. 



