G60 FLORIDA WHITE-BELLTED NUTHATCrr, 



that the spur, ib. c slipped entirely over the lower uiaudilile, :ui(l buiiit;' wmuMvliut clastic, 

 pressed upward into the V-shaped depression at its Ijase, ( see il). 1» ; ) at the s une time the 

 broken edt^es above pressed firmly against the rather flat top of the base of the upper man- 

 dible, keeping the bill closed. So closely did the spur ( seen in side view at ib. a ) hold 

 the shell in place, that all eflforts of the bird to dislodge it proved futile. Thus the nut- 

 hatch perished, not from hunger for there were remnants of food in the stomach, nor from 

 suffocation for the nostrils were free, but from worry, just as some birds do when newly 

 caged. The liird was picked up in Waltham, and the skin is now in the collection of 

 Master Roy M. Baker to whom T am indebted for the privilege of illustrating the head. 



Sitta Carolinensis Atkinsi 

 Florida White-bellied Nuthatch. 



Sitta Carolincnsis atkinsi Scott, Auk, Vol. VII, 1800, p. lO.S. 



DESCRIPTION. 



Sub Sp. Ch. Size, a little smaller than the typical White-bellied. They arc dai'ker above with rather 

 more chestnut below, but the chief difference lies in the fact that the females have a black crown as in the 

 males, the only difference between the sexes being a less amount of black on the scapularies of the females. 



OBSERVATIONS. 



In November, ISO:!, I obtained typical specimens of this sub species at Rosewood, Florida, and noted 

 the difference between them and the northern form, but neglected to describe the form. 



HABITS. 



I found the Florida Nuthatch lather common in the pine woods about Rosewood 

 through November and December, 1893. Although sometimes occuiiing in company 

 with the Brown-heads, they do not always accompany them nor other small birds but 

 occurs in pairs. I fre(juently saw them carrying seeds about in their bills as if they were 

 trying to hide them. The males utter a singular song which consi.^ts of a series of low 

 notes which partly resemble those of the Carolina Wren and paitly those of the Tufted 

 Tit. The birds when giving this odd lay appear very restless, ar.d tly from tree to tree 

 without pausing anywhere. Judging from these habits it is proliable that these nut- 

 hatches are constantly resident in the pine woods where I saw them and that they breed 

 there. 



SITTA CAfSlADENSIS. 

 Red-bellied Nuthatch. 



DESCRIPTION. 

 Sp. Ch. Size, small. Color. Adult male. Above, bluish slate of a shade or two darker than is the 

 White-bellied. Top of head and line through eye, extending down on neck, black. Above and below this 

 line are white lines extending its entire length, the one below meeting its fellow beneath on the chin. Wings, 

 brown, with the two outer feathers banded near termination with white and ashy. Central tail feathers, 

 ashy, and the others are tipped with it. Beneath, brownish red of a variable shade, becoming duller in sum- 

 mer. Adult female, similar, but the crown is like the back, and the stripe through the eye is dusky, not 

 black. Beneath, often paler. 



