Indian Birds 



It has a white eyebrow, and the patch of 

 feathers under the tail is pale yellow. 



It occurs only in Southern India and is ex- 

 ceedingly common in the vicinity of Madras. 

 It frequents gardens and utters a variety of 

 very cheery little notes, and has, therefore, been 

 called " the blithest little bird in existence." 

 It does not show itself very much in the open, 

 being heard much more frequently than seen. 

 It builds a cup-shaped nest in a bush or low 

 tree. 



The Nuthatches^ 23 and 24 



Nuthatches are little climbing birds char- 

 acterised by very short tails. They go about 

 in small flocks and run up and down the trunks 

 and branches of trees with great address, 

 picking up small insects. They also, as their 

 name implies, feed upon nuts. They nest in 

 holes of trees, frequently closing up a portion 

 of the aperture with mud. (Illus. F. I., p. 298.) 



23. Sitta castaneiventris : The Chestnut- 

 bellied Nuthatch. (F. 321), (J. 250), ( - I.) 



Upper plumage dark greyish blue. A broad 



black band runs from the beak, through the 



eye and down the side of the head. The other 



parts of the cheek are white. The lower 



104 



