522 BRITISH BIRDS. 
Genus SITTA. 
The genus Sitta was defined in 1766 by Linnzeus in the twelfth edition of 
his ‘Systema Nature,’ i. p. 177. Sitta europea must be accepted as the 
type, though it is not the Sita sitta of Brisson, a bird with which Linneeus 
was unacquainted. But since S. ewropea and S. cesia are only climatic 
races of one species, it is of no consequence. i 
The Nuthatches are aberrant members of the subfamily Parine, and 
may be distinguished by their large, straight, conical Woodpecker-like 
bills. The wing is typical, with a small bastard primary. The tail is 
short and even, like that of the Wren. The tarsus is scutellated, and the 
feet are very large. 
The geographical distribution of this genus ranges throughout the 
Palearctic Region south of the Arctic circle, the Oriental Region, the 
Nearctic Region south of about lat. 54°, and extends into the extreme 
north of the Neotropical Region. There are nearly twenty species in 
the genus; but only two are found in Europe, and one of these may be 
subdivided into several climatic races, of which one is a resident in our 
islands. 
The Nuthatches are both insectivorous and graminivorous. In their 
habits they resemble the Woodpeckers and the Creepers more than the 
true Tits. Some of the species build mud nests on the rocks, whilst others 
build in holes in trees, plastering the entrance only with mud. The eggs 
are white spotted with red. 
