418 PROCEEDINGS OF THE NATIONAL MUSEUM vol.84 



Hartert ^° has listed Sitta whiieheadi Sharpe of the mountains of 

 Corsica and Sitta villosa Verreaux of northern and northwestern China 

 and Mongoha as subspecies of the North American red-breasted 

 nuthatch. Hellmayr " also gives villosa as a race of the present species. 



The Corsican nuthatch (Sitta whiieheadi) is similar to Sitta canadensis 

 in general only, as it is decidedly larger, does not have the same under 

 wing pattern and tail markings, and differs in coloration. Its resem- 

 blances to canadensis are in my opinion only those that place it in the 

 same genus, and its differences are so great as to preclude its being 

 considered specifically the same. 



Sitta villosa is similar in size to canadensis but here close resemblance 

 ceases, as it does not have the line through the eye distinctly black, 

 the under tail coverts are not tipped with white, there is no definite 

 white marldng at the tips of the outer tail feathers, and the under wing 

 pattern is not so strongly developed. In addition, the tone of color 

 is much grayer. Here again the differences are so great, when 

 ■coupled with distant distribution, as to forbid consideration of 

 ■villosa as a race of canadensis. 



Family CERTHIIDAE 



CERTHIA FAMILIARIS AMERICANA Bonaparte 



Brown Creeper 



Specimens of this migrant form were taken 8 miles east of Hunt- 

 ington on November 1, and at 3,000 feet elevation on Katis Mountain, 

 near White Sulphur Springs, on November 6. 



CERTHIA FAMILIARIS NIGRESCENS Burleigh 



Southern Creeper 



A female was taken at 3,800 feet on Cheat Mountain 3 miles 

 west of Cheat Bridge, September 25. A pair was recorded at this 

 point in June. Mr. Burleigh secured one at the Cranberry Glades 

 in Pocahontas County on June 19, 1931. 



This recently described race,'^ when compared with the form 

 americana, as indicated in the original description, has the anterior 

 part of the body, including the crown, darker, the tail more grayish, 

 and the rump darker. 



The coloration of the under surface in tree-creeping birds is so 

 subject to stain that differences in color in this region are unreUable 

 in making comparisons. 



'« Vog. pal. Fauna, vol. 1, June 1905, pp. 335-336. 



11 Field Mus. Nat. Hist., zool. ser., vol. 13, pt. 7, 1934, p. 96. 



12 Certhia familiaris nigrescens Burleigh, Proc. Biol. Soc. Washington, vol. 43, May 3, 1935, p. 62 (Mount 

 Mitchell, N. C). 



