294 THE PYGMY NUTHATCH. 



ing black on rcctriccs ( c.\cej)t central j)air) ; longer primaries usually with some 

 etlging of wliitc; central pair of tail-feathers with elongated white s|M(t ; two outer 

 pairs crossed ol)lii|uely with white, and the three outer tipped with slate; under- 

 parts sordid white, smoky brown, or even fernigiiious, clearest (nearly white) 

 on chin and cheeks; sides, flanks, and crissum washed with color of back; bill 

 plumbeous, lightening below; feet pliunbeous; iris black. Yoiiiuj: Like aihilts but 

 crown and hind-neck nearly color of back ; sitles 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 "5' 



Recu>;nition A\arks. — I'ygmy size; to]) of head olive brt.wn coiUrasting with 

 plumbeous of liack ; gregarious habits. 



Nesting.- — \cst: a hole in dead top of pine tiee, excavated by birds, smeared 

 about entrance with jiitch. and lined with soft substances, grass, hair, and 

 feathers. li(j(js: 3-S, i)ure white, flecked more or less heavily with reddish brown. 

 .\v. size, .'ii X .54 ( 15.5 X 13.7 ). Season: May 1-20; one brood. 



General Range. — Western I'nitcd States from New Mexico, Colorado, and 

 .Montana to somliern California, Washington, and eastern I'.ritish Columbia; 

 southwanl in .Mexico to .Mount Orizaba. 



Range in Washington. — Resident in northern and eastern portions of the 

 State east of the Cascade Mountains. Nearly conlined to pine timber. 



Authorities.— Baird. Rep. I'ac. R. R. Sur\-. L\. pt. IL 1858, p. ^8. C&S. 

 D'. J. 



Specimens. — I'rov. C. 



.\S for the rygiiiy, the pine tree is his home. It is not cpiite ])roper, 

 however, to speak of this Xuthalch in the singular. Lilliputians nuist 

 hunt in troops and make up in numbers what they lack in strength. Pygmy 

 Nuthatches are not merely sociable; they are almost gregarious. Where 

 .1 comi)any of Kinglets would be content to straggle thru a dozen trees, 

 a ])ack of Pygmies prefers to assemble in one. Vet there is no flock im- 

 pulse here, as with Siskins. Kach little elf is his own master, and a 

 company <jf them is more like a crowd of merry schooUxiys than anything 

 else. It's "come on fellers," when one of the Ixiys tires of a given tree, 

 and sets out for another. The rest follow at leisure but are si>on re- 

 assembled, and there is much jolly chatter with some good-natured scuflling, as 

 the confederated mischiefs swarm over the new field of op|)ortunity. 



Xuthatches are not methodical, like Creejjers, in their search for in- 

 sects, — they are hajihazard and haiJi)y. The branches are more attractive 

 to them than the tree lx>le, and the dead top of the tree is most alluring 

 of all. The Pygtnies are never too busy to talk. The more they find the more 

 e.xcited their chatter grows, pretty lispings and chiriungs quite too dainty for 

 our dull ears. It makes us sigh to watch their happiness, and we go off 

 muttering, "W'e, too. were young." 



Again, it shocks us when we find these youngsters in knickerlxickers 



