204 THE PYGMY NUTHATCH. 
ing black on rectrices (except central pair) ; longer primaries usually with some 
edging of white; central pair of tail-feathers with elongated white spot; two outer 
pairs crossed obliquely with white, and the three outer tipped with slate; under- 
parts sordid white, smoky brown, or even ferruginous, clearest (nearly white) 
on chin and cheeks; sides, flanks, and crissum washed with color of back; bill 
plumbeous, lightening below; feet plumbeous; iris black. Young: Like adults but 
crown and hind-neck nearly color of back; sides and flanks washed with brownish. 
Length 4.00 (101.6) or less; wing 2.56 (65) ; tail 1.34 (34) ; bill .56 (14.2) ; tarsus 
59 (15). 
Recognition Marks.—Pygmy size; top of head olive brown contrasting with 
plumbeous of back; gregarious habits. 
Nesting.—Nest: a hole in dead top of pine tiee, excavated by birds, smeared 
about entrance with pitch, and lined with soft substances, grass, hair, and 
feathers. Eggs: 5-8, pure white, flecked more or less heavily with reddish brown. 
Ay. size, .61 x .54 (15.5x 13.7). Season: May 1-20; one brood. 
General Range.—Western United States from New Mexico, Colorado, and 
Montana to southern California, Washington, and eastern British Columbia; 
southward in Mexico to Mount Orizaba. 
Range in Washington.—Resident in northern and eastern portions of the 
State east of the Cascade Mountains. Nearly confined to pine timber. 
Authorities.—Baird, Rep. Pac. R. R. Sury. IX. pt. II. 1858, p. 378. C&S. 
IDE. JJ. 
Specimens.—Prov. C. 
AS for the Pygmy, the pine tree is his home. It is not quite proper, 
however, to speak of this Nuthatch in the singular. Lilliputians must 
hunt in troops and make up in numbers what they lack in strength. Pygmy 
Nuthatches are not merely sociable; they are almost gregarious. Where 
a company of Kinglets would be content to straggle thru a dozen trees, 
a pack of Pygmies prefers to assemble in one. Yet there is no flock im- 
pulse here, as with Siskins. Each little elf is his own master, and a 
company of them is more like a crowd of merry schoolboys than anything 
else. It’s “come on fellers,’” when one of the boys tires of a given tree, 
and sets out for another. ‘The rest follow at leisure but are soon re- 
assembled, and there is much jolly chatter with some good-natured scuffling, as 
the confederated mischiefs swarm over the new field of opportunity. 
Nuthatches are not methodical, like Creepers, in their search for in- 
sects,—they are haphazard and happy. The branches are more attractive 
to them than the tree bole, and the dead top of the tree is most alluring 
of all. The Pygmies are never too busy to talk. The more they find the more 
excited their chatter grows, pretty lispings and chirpings quite too dainty for 
our dull ears. It makes us sigh to watch their happiness, and we go off 
muttering, “We, too, were young.” 
Again, it shocks us when we find these youngsters in knickerbockers 
