concerning the Birds of Massachusetts. 97 
Picus tridactylus, (Three-toed Yellow-headed Woodpecker.) 
Is this northern species often seen in Maine or New Hampshire? 
Any particulars of its history would be very acceptable to the 
naturalist. 
Picus major, (Greater Spotted Woodpecker.) Is this Euro- 
pean species really indigenous to any part of America, as stated 
by Pennant and others, and included in Wilson’s Index, but no- 
where described by him ? 
Sita carolinensis, (White-breasted Nuthatch.) According 
to the information of my friend, Z. Collins, Esq. of Philadelphia, 
this is the bird known in Pennsylvania by the name of the 
Whet-Saw, from the resemblance its tones sometimes bear to the 
filing or whetting of a saw. Mr. White, in his amusing Sketches 
of the Natural History of Selborne (vol. I. p. 174.), remarks, that 
the Marsh Titmouse (our Chicadee), in the month of February, 
uttered (at times) two quaint notes like the whetting of a saw. 
I have never heard any such note from the Marsh Titmouse, and 
therefore conceive it probable that the author might have mista- 
ken the European Sitta for the Titmouse, as they resemble each 
other in a great degree ; and, from the near affinity of our larger 
Nuthatches to that of the old continent, they may be supposed 
capable of uttering very similar tones. This singular note has 
also been attributed in the United States to some other bird. 
I therefore would solicit additional information on the subject. 
Troglodytes palustris, (Marsh Wren.) This species, which 
probably extends its migrations as far north as Connecticut, is 
unknown in Massachusetts, and its place and habits are ex- 
changed with the following new species. 
20 
