SITTA, UPA 
which has no visible link with any of the other families of Passeres 
in the area we cover, whilst the Z¢maltidw are another development 
in a different direction. 
In this family the edges of the upper mandible are smooth, or 
the upper one simply notched; the hinder aspect of the tarsus 
smooth, composed of two entire longitudinal lamine and other 
features as already given in the key to the Families. The nostrils 
are overhung by some hairs and the rictal bristles are present; the 
feet are very strongly developed for the purpose of climbing, the 
hind toe and claw are very powerful and the inner toe and claw 
dwarfed ; the bill is about as long as the head, fairly stout and 
straight. The wing is long and pointed and the first primary is 
always less than half the second. The tail is short and square 
or very slightly rounded. The sexes are dissimilar. 
Only one genns of Nuthatch, Sitta, is found within our limits. 
The little Velvet-fronted Nuthatch is sometimes separated under 
the name Dendrophila but without any very apparent reason or~ 
necessity. 1 follow Oates in uniting them all under one name. 
Genus SITTA Linn., 1766. 
The characters of the genus are those of the family. 
Key to Species and Subspecies. 
A. pee plumage uniform bluish grey. 
Ane pair of tail-feathers white at base. 
, Sides of neck and lower plumage chest- 
TCD 5 00656 Oe ch Glo RRC TOIRCNe Cia DOO S. himalayensis, p. 122. 
U'. Sides of neck white, maid with 
golden chestnut; chin, throat and 
uppembreast White .......0.020. 60. S. victoria, p. 128. 
4. Middle pair of tail-feathers uniform, with 
no white. 
ce’. Lateral tail-feathers with white spots. 
«a, Under tail-coverts chestnut, centred 
ashy. 
a’, Lower plumage paler; wing over 
0 TTI Pare at ov aussie eachis oye tanstieiios S. kashnuriensis, p. 128. 
“, Lower plumage ‘darker; wing 
under 80 mm..... SAG Ud oe Cen S. custaneiventris casta- 
Under tail-coverts white, tipped neiventris, p. 123. 
chestnut. 
ce", Lower plumage chestnut. 
t', Chestnut of lower plumage [p. 125. 
uniform from throat to vent.. SS. c¢. eirnamoventris, 
Throat and breast paler than 
rest of lower plumage ...... S. ce. neglecta, p. 126. 
pe Lower plumage grey .......... S. europea MAYUENSIS, 
. Under tail-coverts chestnut, tipped [p. 127. 
WALUCGM aw ong uses totet yokes sasl ess aleve iui’ S. magna, p. 128. 
. Lateral tail-feathers without white |p. 129. 
SPOUSHS jay cecctsnentioush oes olen ikon suche. wis S. newmayer tephronota, 
