54 SINGING BIRDS— OSCINES. 



Sitta aculeata, Cassin. 



THE WESTERN NUTHATCH. 



Sitta CaroUnensis, G.iielin, of West Coast, Nuttall, Man. I. 2(1 cj. 695. — Newberry, P. R. 



Rep. VI. iv. 79. 

 Sitta aculeata, C.vssiN, Pr. A. N. So. Phila. VIII. Oct. 1856, 254. — Baikd, P. R. Rep. IX. 



Birds, 375. — Kenneuly, X. iv. 26 ; pi. 33, f. 4. — Heermann, X. vi. 55. — CoorEU 



aud SucKLEY, XII. iii. Zool. of W. T. 193. 



Sp. Chak. Above, ashy-blue ; top of head and neck black. Under parts and sides of 

 head, to a short distance above the eye, white. Under tail coverts, and tibial feathers 

 brown ; concealed primaries white. BUI very slender and long. Length, C inches ; ex- 

 tent, 10.50 ; wing, 3.50 ; tail, 2.12. Iris brown ; bill black ; feet gray. 



Ilab. Pacilic Coast, and east towards the Rocky Mountains. 



This is not a common bird soiitli of San Francisco, and only seen there in 

 the colder months, but I ha\'e ibiiiid tliem near San Diego in February. I 

 saw none even in the Coast Mountains in summer, near Santa Cruz ; but 

 northward they become numerous at that season, frequenting chiefly the 

 groves of deciduous oaks, constantly creeping about their trimks aud branches 

 in search of insects, and occasionally seeking for them on the roofs and walls 

 of houses. Their habits are similar to those of S. Canadensis, but they are 

 i-ather slower in movements, and their notes consist of a single harsh call, 

 uttered occasionally, and answered by their comrades. Their nest and eggs 

 are still unknown. 



Sitta Canadensis, Linx.eus. 



THE RED-BELLIED NUTHATCH. 



Sitta Canadensis, LiNN-EUS, Syst. Nat. I. 1766, 177. — Nuttall, Man. I. 1832,583. — Au- 

 dubon, Oin. Biog. II. 1834, 24; V. 474; pi. 108. Ib. Birds Anier. IV. 179; pi. 

 248.- Baikd, P. R. Rep. IX. Birds, 376. — Coopek and Suckley, XII. iii. Zool. 

 ofW. T. 193. 



Sitta varia, Wils. Am. Orn. I. 1808, 40 ; pi. ii. 



Si". Chau. Above, ashy-bhie. Top of head black ; a white line above, and a black one 



