THE BRITISH NUTHATCH. 221 



B.O.C., XVI, p. 44). Male, Camber (Sussex), Nov. 1, 1912 (H. W. 

 Ford-Lindsay, Brit. B., vi, p. 218). Female, Ecclesbourne 

 (Sussex), Dec. 28, 1915 (J. B. Nichols, op. c, xii, p. 67). One seen 

 Mells, Somerset, Sept. 1901 (J. Wiglesworth, ojy. c, xn, p. 185). 



Distribution. — Abroad — Mountain-ranges of central and south 

 Europe, east to Mongolia, Turkestan, and Himalayas. Stragglers 

 occasionally seen far away from their breeding-places (Germany, 

 Brittany, Normandy, Alderney, etc.). 



Family SITTID^. 



Small, scansorial, ten-primaried Oscines with straight, subulate, 

 unnotched bill. Nostrils roundish, non-operculate and partly 

 concealed by antrorse feathers, or with an operculum and entirely 

 exposed [Neositta and Daphcenositta in Australia and New Guinea). 

 Tarsus short, distinctly scutellate (except in Neositta). Toes large, 

 with large laterally compressed claws, inner toe reaching only to 

 second joint of middle toe, hallux equal to outer toe. Wings long 

 and pointed. 1st primary very small, less than one-third of 2nd, 

 3rd and 4th or 3rd, 4th and 5th primaries longest, 2nd equal to or 

 slightly longer than 7th (except Neositta). Tail short, soft, straight, 

 twelve rectrices, broad with rounded tip. Nests in holes of trees 

 or crevices of rocks, eggs white with rufous spots (except Neositta). 

 Palsearctic, Nearctic, Indo -Malayan and Australian regions. Only 

 one genus Palsearctic. Non-migratory. 



Genus SITTA L. 

 SiTTA Linnaeus, Syst. Nat., ed. x, i, p. 115 (1758 — ^Monotype : S. europcca). 



Bill robust, nearly as long as head, about equal to tarsus, at 

 base somewhat wider than deep ; culmen quite or nearly straight, 

 rounded above ; gonys more or less ascending terminally. Nostrils 

 rounclisli or oval, non-operculate, almost entirely concealed by 

 antrorse bristly feathers. Rictal bristles present, though short 

 and soft. 3rd to 5th primaries longest, 4th usually slightly longer ; 

 2nd equal to 7th or slightly longer ; 1st very small, sometimes 

 scarcely longer than primary-coverts. Wing-tip decidedly longer 

 than bill or tarsus. Tarsus distinctly scutellate. Palsearctic, 

 Nearctic and Indo-Malayan regions. Fifteen or sixteen species 

 in at least forty -six subspecies. 



SITTA EUROP.£A 



90. Sitta europasa britannica Hart. — THE BRITISH 

 NUTHATCH. 



Sitta europ^ea britannica Hartert, Nov. Zool., 1900, p. 526 (England). 

 Sitta ccesia Wolf, Yarrell, i, p. 473; Savmders, p. 113; S. e. britannica 

 Hartert, Brit. B., i, p. 218. 



