388 



NUTHATCHES AND TITS. 



search for certain tidbits in the shape of grubs or insects' eggs hidden 

 in the bark. 



There is such a lack of sentiment in the Nuthatch's character, he 

 seems so matter-of-fact in all his ways, that it is difficult to imagine 

 him indulging in anything like song. But even he can not withstand 

 the all-conquering influences of spring, and at that season he raises 

 his voice in a peculiar monotone — a tenor hah-hah-hah-hah-hah — 

 sounding strangely like mirthless laughter. 



^S^b. S. C. a/tkinsi Scott. Florida White-breasted JNuthatch. — 

 Similar to the preceding, but somewhat smaller, the wing-coverts and quills 

 but slightly or not at all tipped with whitit»li, the 9 with the top of the head 

 and nape black, as in the $ . W., 3-32 ; T., 1-80 ; B., -70. 



Range. — Florida, northward on the Atlantic coast to southern South Caro- 

 lina. 



728. Sitta canadensis Linn. Eed-breasted Nuthatch. Ad. 6 . — 

 Top of the head and a wide drlpe throvgh the eye to the nape shining black ; 



a white line over the eye ; upper parts 



bluish gray ; no black marks on the 



secondaries ; outer tail-feathers black, 



with white patches near their tips ; 



middle ones bluish gray ; throat white ; 



rest of the under parts ochraceons-hvff or rufous. 



Ad. 9 . — Similar, but the top of the head and stripe 



through the eye bluish gray, like the back; under 



parts paler. L., 4-62 ; W., 2-66 ; T., 1-58 ; B., -50. 



Eavge. — North America ; breeds from Mani- 

 toba and Maine northward, and southward along 

 the Alleghanies to Virginia; winters from about the southern limit of its 

 breeding range to the Gulf States. 



Washington, irregularly abundant W. V., sometimes rare, Sept. 15 to May 

 10. Sing Sing, irregular W. V., Aug. 8 to May 8. Cambridge, irregular T. V. 

 and W. v., Sept. 15 to Nov. 25 ; Nov. 25 to Apl. 1, or rarely May 5. 



Nest., of grasses, in a hole in a tree or stump. Eggs., four to six, white or 

 creamy white, speckled with cinnamon-, rufous-brown, and lavender, -60 x -47. 



While resembling the White-breasted Nuthatch, this more northern 

 species differs from it sufficiently both in notes and appearance to be 

 easily distinguished. Its black face-stripe is a noticeable character, 

 while to the trained ear its higher, finer, more nasal, slightly drawled 

 yna, yna is quite unlike the White-breast's vigorous yaiik, yank. The 

 Red-breast has an evident partiality for pine trees, and may be seen 

 hovering about the cones while looking for a foothold from which to 

 extract their seeds. 



729* Sitta pusilUl (Lath.). Brown-headed Nuthatch. .4c?.— Top 

 and back of the head dark grayish hroivn ; a whitish patch on the nape ; no 



Fig. 113. 

 Nuthatch 



- Red - breasted 

 (Natural size.) 



