118 NORTH AMERICAN BIRDS. 



year, in the vicinity of Carson City, among the pines on the Sierra Nevada 

 Mountains. He noted its great similarity in manners to the carolincnsis ; at 

 the same time the well-marked difference in the notes did not escape his 

 attention. These notes are much weaker, and are uttered in a finer tone, and 

 some of them are said to be entirely different. 



Sitta canadensis, Linn. 



EED-BELLIED NUTHATCH. 



Sitta canaderisis, /.inn. Syst. Nat. I, 1766, 177. — Aud. Orn. Biog. IT, 1834, pi. cviii. — 

 Ib. Birds Am. IV, pi. ccxlviii.— Reich. Handb. Abh. II, 1853, 152, tab. dxiii, figs. 

 3561, 3562. — Baikd, Birds N. Am. 1858, 376 ; Review, 87. — Sclater, Catal. 

 1861, 15, no. 91. — Cooper, Orn. Cal. I, 1870, 54. Sitta varia, Wils. Am. Orn. I, 

 1808, 40, pi. ii. 



Sp. Char. Above ashy-blue. Top of head black ; a white Hne above and a black one 

 through the eye. Chin white ; rest of under parts brownish-rusty. Length about 4.50 

 inches ; wing, 2.66. Female with the black of head mixed with ashy ; beneath paler, 

 more of a muddy-white. 



Hab. Whole United States and British Provinces. North to Lake Winnipeg. 



Habits. The common Red-bellied Nuthatch, though nowhere a very 

 abundant species, is found throughout the whole of North America,. from 

 Florida to high northern regions, and from ocean to ocean. The Smithsonian 

 Institution possesses specimens from Georgia, Selkirk Settlement, California, 

 and Washington Territory. Mr. Gambel found them quite common in the 

 mountains in the interior of California, in October, roving in company with 

 busy flocks of the Parus -montanus. 



Dr. Cooper met with them abundantly in Washington Territory, where 

 they preferred the oaks and other deciduous trees, and never frequented the 

 interior of the dense forest. He observed this bird and the Slender-billed 

 Nuthatch, along the 49th parallel, east of the Cascade Mountains, as late as 

 the middle of October. Dr. Suckley also met both birds west of the same 

 mountains. 



This Nuthatch was observed by Mr. Ridgway among the aspen groves bor- 

 dering the streams that flow from the East Humboldt Mountains. In that 

 locality it was common through the month of September, though not abun- 

 dant. It was again seen in June among the pine-woods of the Wahsatch 

 IMountains, but it was not common. 



While a few of these birds are resident of the Northern States, they are, 

 to a considerable extent, of migratory habits. Wilson observed tliem leaving 

 in large numbers for the Southern States in October, and returning again in 

 April. On the 20th of May, 1867, the writer observed a small flock in 

 Eastern Massachusetts, evidently just arrived from the South. They were 

 apparently fatigued and hungry, and paid no attention to the near presence 



