400 BIRDS OF ONTARIO. 



SITTA CANADENSIS (Linn.). 

 304. Red-breasted Nuthatch. (728) 



Above, dark ashy-blue; tail, as in caroliiien.sifi ; below, rusty-brown; wings, 

 plain; crown and nape, glossy black, boi'dered by white superciliary line; a 

 black line from bill through and widening beyond the eye. 



Hab. — North as far as Lake Winnipeg, breeding mostly north of the United 

 States, migrating south in winter. 



Nest, in a hole in a stub, about eight inches deep, warmly lined with down 

 and feathers. 



Eggs, white, speckled and spotted with reddish-brown. 



Compared with the White -bellied Nuthatch, this is the more 

 migratory in its habits, being seen in Southern Ontario only in 

 spring and fall, and it is not at any time numei'ous. I have been 

 accustomed to tliink that those we get in the fall with the red 

 breast were in full plumage, but recent observers state that, when 

 in mature dress, the lower parts are dirty-white, slightly shaded 

 with brown on the sides, and that only young birds have the lower 

 parts uniform rusty-brown. While here they are very active, show- 

 ing a decided partiality for the upper parts of pine trees, where they 

 no doubt find something to suit their taste. The note resembles 

 that of the White-bellied species, but is softer, weaker, and more 

 frequently repeated. It arrives during the first week of May, and is 

 soon lost sight of again till September, when it is seen passing south. 



Ontario is probably its northern limit, for although it has been 

 found in Manitoba, it is said to be exceedingly rare. 



Subfamily PARING. Titmice. 



Genus PARUS Linn.eus. 



Subgenus PARUS Linn^us. 



PARUS ATRICAPILLUS (Linn.). 



305. Chickadee. (73.o) 



Above, brownish-ash; crown and nape, chin and throat, black; beneath, 

 white, brownish on sides ; wing and tail feathers, more or less whitish edged. 

 Length, 5 ; wing and tail, 2J. 



Hab. — Eastejn North America, north of tlie Potomac and Ohio Valleys. 



