176 BIRDS OF BERMUDA, 



This is somewhat extraordinary, when one considers the formidable bill 

 of the victim ; but the Blue Bird is a determined little fellow, and for- 

 tune favors the bold. A great number of " crawlers " — long scaly grubs, 

 with no end of legs — are destroj^ed by these useful birds, who will sit 

 patiently watching for them on a convenient twig, swooping down on 

 the first comer and bearing him off in triumph. They will also dart 

 into the air after passing insects much like a Flycatcher, returning 

 each time to their starting-point. They are very bold in pursuit of 

 prey when they have young to feed, but always visit their nest with 

 extreme caution should an observer be near. 



Family PARID^. 



Sub-family SITTING. 



Genus Sitta, Linn. 



7. Sitta canadensis, Linn. Eed-bellied Nuthatch. 



Sitta canadensis, Linn., Gm., Lath., Bp., Nntt., And., Bd., and other modern 



authors. 

 Sitta varia, Wils. 

 " Sitta stulta Fieill.", (Bp.) 



Length, about 4J inches ; wing, 2f . 



Eah. — North America, at large in wooded regions, but rather north- 

 erly (to 66° or farther) ; south, however, to the Mexican border. (Coues.) 



One specimen only has been taken in Bermuda; this is in Mr. Bart- 

 ram's collection, and was shot by himself near his house at Stocks Point. 



Family CERTHIAD^. 



Sub-family CERTHIIN^. 



Genus Certhia, Linn. 



8. Certhia familiaris, Linn. Brown Creeper. 



Certhia familiaris, Linn, and of authors — Vieil., Wils., Aud., &c. 



Certhia americana, Bp., Nutt., Bd., &c., and nearly all local writers of eastern 



United States. 

 Certhia mexicana, Gloger and Reich., &c. (A variety.) 



Length, 5.50; wing, 2.60; tail, 2.90. 



^a&.— Europe, North America at large, Mexico (var.). (Coues.) 

 Certhia familiaris, Brown Creeper. — A male bird of this species was 

 shot by Bendall, an old soldier of the Fifty-third regiment, out of three 

 or four seen in Devonshire Swamp, on November 24, 187G. 



