SITTA PYC.MyP.A. 417 



SiTTA PYGM^A. 



Pig:ni}' IViilliiilcli. 



Sitta pyumwa, Vigors, Zool. Beechey's Voy., 1830, 2!), pi. 4— Baird. B. N. Am., 

 1858, 378 ; Cat. N. Am. B., 185», No. 281 ; Ueview, 18C4, 88.— B .B. & li., lli.st. 

 N. Am. B., I, 1874, ILM), pi. VIIF, fi^. 10— Coopek, Oiii. Cal., 55.— CotiK.S, 

 Key, 1872, 83, fig. 27; Check List, 1873, No. 41 ; IJ. N.W., 1874, 25.— llKN- 

 SHAW, 1875, 175. ■ • 



This curious little Nuthatch was always a conipauioii of the larger 

 species {S. aculeata), the same local conditfoiis being favorable or unfavor- 

 able to their presence. They appear to live together on the best of terras, 

 since we have often seen individuals of each pass and re-p.iss one another as 

 they searched the same branch or trunk. The manners of this diminutive 

 Nuthatch partake in their general nature of those common to the genus, 

 and present no marked peculiarities wortliy of note. It is extrem(;ly 

 noisy, its shrill notes being uttered almost continually, whether the bird 

 is engaged in creeping aniong the branches or in flying from the top of 

 one tree to that of another; and although one may be making a din 

 greater than that of any other bird in the forest, it is generally hard to 

 discover him, on account of his diminutive size. The notes of this species 

 greatly resemble in their high pitch the "peet" or "peet-weet" of certain 

 Sandpipers (as Trhigoides and Rhyacophilus), but they are louder and more 

 piercing. AVhen once paired, these birds seem to possess a strong attach- 

 ment to their mates, since on one occasion, after a female had been killed, 

 the male made loud and continued complaint, and after being followed 

 from tree to tree, was finally shot from the same oiie where his mate had 

 been secured. 



List of specimens. 



UO,Sad.; Carson City, Nevada, February 19, 18G8. 4^—8^—2^—2^%. Bill, 

 slate-black, basal half of lower mandible (abruptly), railkwbite; iris, very dark vaii- 

 dykebrown ; tar.si and toes, plumbeous-black. 



411, 9 «i7.; mate of preceding. 4J— 7,^— 2§— 2t?j. Same remarks. White of bill 

 with delicate bluish tinge. 



488, 9 «(/.; Carson, April 3. 4;}— 8— 2g— 2^. Same remarks. 



492, i ad.; Carson, April 4. 4 e^— 8— 2|J— 2jV Same remarks. 

 27 P R 



