I I 8 Scott. Birds of the Gulf Coast of Florida. [April 



have seen in all three or four old nests of Marsh Wrens, and the birds are 

 present, though rare, in the marshes in summer. 



In habits they are very like their near allies. The period of song does 

 not seem to be wholly suspended, so far as I am aware, at any season. 

 The season of song, however, really begins about the last week in Jan- 

 uary, and after that time it may be heard constantly until the middle of 

 March or first of April, when most of the birds have left this region. 



In character the song is similar to that of Cistothorus palustris, but the 

 difference, though difficult to describe, is easily appreciated by the listener. 



Sitta carolinensis atkinsi, subsp. nov. 

 Florida White-bellied Nuthatch. 



After carefully considering the representatives of Sitta carolinensis 

 that occur in the region about Tarpon Springs, there appear to 

 be such constant and regular deviations in color, size, and relative 

 proportions of the different parts, from the representatives of the species 

 collected from Massachusetts southward to North Carolina, that I feel 

 warranted in calling attention to so well marked a form as occurs in 

 this portion of Florida, and in suggesting the recognition of a new sub- 

 species to be called Sitta carolinensis atkinsi. This name is given to 

 record in a slight way my great appreciation of the careful work done by 

 my friend Mr. John W. Atkins of Key West, on the birds of that portion 

 of Florida. 



Types, 3940 (Coll. W. E. D. S.), $ , Tarpon Springs, Florida, April 21, 

 18S7; 3164 (Coll. W. E. D. S.;, ?, Sept. 27, 1S86, Tarpon Springs, 

 Florida. 



General characteristics. — Average of wing, as compared with northern 

 birds, .20 in. smaller in males, .15 in. smaller in females. Bill relatively 

 much longer and slenderer. Light markings of tipping of the coverts 

 and quills of the wings decidedly narrower. A little less white in the 

 tail. In the female birds the black of the top of the head and nape is pro- 

 nounced, and it is difficult to distinguish the sexes easily, and in some 

 cases impossible, by the color of these parts. 



Average size of Sitta carolinensis as given by Mr. Robert Ridgway 

 (Manual N. A. Birds): Wing, 3.60; tarsus, .72-. 75 ; culmen, .S4 inch. 

 Wing, culmen and tarsus of four males and five females from vicinity of 

 Tarpon Springs : 



AYintr. Culmen. Tarsus. 



Tarpon Springs, Fla. 



