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sides of the head, sides and fore part of neck and the breast white. 

 Young with the black on the head wanting. Adult with the up- 

 per part of the head and hind neck black ; back and middle tail 

 feathers grayish-blue ; the rest of the tail feathers black, the tips of 

 those next to the middle white ; the rest with a broad band of the 

 same color toward the end ; wings black, edged with light grayish 

 blue ; sides of the head and lower parts white ; the sides of the 

 abdomen and vent tinged with reddish-brown, which is the color of 

 the inner webs of the under tail coverts. Length five inches and a 

 half, wing three and a half. 



This common bird is met with in all the woody districts of the 

 United States, and is said to be distributed over the continent. 

 It frequents the woods and wet lands, where it is seen moving 

 round the body and larger branches of trees in search of insects 

 and their larvae. It is one of our most hardy birds, and remains 

 with us throughout the year. It is an active climber, and when 

 searching about the tree, is heard to utter at intervals a rather harsh 

 note. In the early part of April it commences building its nest, 

 which is usually placed in a hollow tree. The eggs, five in num- 

 ber, are dull white, spotted with brown at the larger end. 



