54 A HANDBOOK OF EUROPEAN BIRDS. 
linus, but with much broadesf@hite borders to feathers ; fore- 
head, sides of head and ear-coverts black ; chin and throat 
white ; breast and abdomen white tinged with buff, former 
heavily marked with chestnut; bill horn-coloured, legs and 
feet black ; irides brown ? Length 4°2 inches ; culmen 0°35 ; 
wing a'2s ; tail 2» ‘tarsusio"5 3. 
Adult Female: Crown and nape pale isabelline ; fore- 
part of crown marked with chestnut ; back paler than in male, 
feathers tipped with cream-colour ; under parts white, tinged 
with cream-colour ; throat white. 
Young Males: Show less deep chestnut on crown and 
have a creamy-white nape. 
Distribution: Resident in South-eastern Russia. 
Habitat : Similar to “4. pfendulinus. 
Family SITTIDA. 
Genus SITTA. 
NORTHERN NUTHATCH. 
Sitta europea Lz. 
Adult: Upper parts slaty-blue ; a black line running fron» 
base of bill through eyes and down sides of neck; central 
tail-feathers grey, outer ones black at bases, banded with white 
and tipped with grey ; deneath white or tinged with buff on hin- 
der parts ; flanks and under tail-coverts marked with chestnut ; 
bill dark horn-colour, whitish at base beneath ; legs and feet 
pale brown; irides hazel. Length 5°75 inches; culmen 07 ; 
wing 3.5, tail 2; tarsus 0°75. 
Young in first plumage: Feathers above showing white 
shafts, especially on fore parts ; black on sides of head browner 
and not so distinct ; bill shorter and paler ; legs and feet very 
pale ; chestnut markings not so bright as in adult. 
Distribution: Resident in Scandinavia and Westerm 
Russia. 
Habitat: Deciduous woods. 
