388 NUTHATCHES AND TITS. 



search for certain tidbits in the shape of grubs or insects' eggs hidden 

 in the bark. 



There is such a lack of sentiment in the Nuthatch's character, he 

 seems so matter-of-fact in all his ways, that it is difficult to imagine 

 him indulging in anything like song. But even he can not withstand 

 the all-conquering influences of spring, and at that season he raises 

 his voice in a peculiar monotone a tenor hah-h<ih-/ta/i-h/th-hah 

 sounding strangely like mirthless laughter. 



727b. S. C. atkinsi Xcot*t. FI.OJMHA WIIITK-IIKKAMKU Nn HATCH. 

 Similar to tin- piveeding, hut somewhat smaller, the \\ iiiir-eove.rts and o,uills 

 hut .-lightly or not at all tipped with whitish, the 9 witli the top ol' the head 

 und nape hhick, as in the S. W., 8-32; T., 1'80; B., -7". 



if. Florida, northward on the Atlantic coast to southern South Caro- 

 lina. 



728. Sitta canadensis /.inn. Hi I-I-.KI.\-H :> Ni IHAK-H. .[</. $. 



Top i)I' tile head and a wide utrlfn thrmnjh tli, , i/< tn th< nnjn shining hlack ; 



u white line over the eye; upper parts 

 hluish gray; no hlaek marks on the 

 secondaries; outer tail-feat hers hlaek, 

 with white patehes near their tips; 

 middle niies lilui.sh L'l'ay : thmat white ; 

 rest of the under parts <-tirnc,nt-),n/ or rufous. 

 Ad.t. Similar, hut the top nt' the head and stripe 

 through the eye liluisli gray, like the hack ; under 

 parts paler. 1.., J-<;-J; W.. -J-66; T., 1'58 ; B., -50. 



/ '"" ;/ " N " rt1 ' A ""' r '"' il ; bW6d- tV '"" Man '" 

 tohn and Maine north ward, and s.uithward lloog 



tlie Alle<jhanics to North Carolina; winters from uhout the southern limit of 

 ite hreeding range to the (Julf States. 



W:i>hiiiirtoii, irreirularly ahundant W. V., Kometimes rare, Sept. 15 to May 

 10. Sim: Siii L r. irregular W. V., Aug. 8 to May 8. Cum!>rid>re. irregular T. V. 

 and W. V., Sept. 15 to Nov. L'.' ; Nov. 25 to Apl. 1, or rarely May r,. 



Nest, of grasses, in a hole in a tree or stump. A';/y*', four to six, white or 

 creamy white, speckled with cinnamon-, nifoiis-hrown, and lavender, -60 x -47. 



While resembling the White-breasted Nuthatch, this more northern 

 species differs from it sufficiently both in notes mid appearance to 1- 

 easily distinguished. Its black face-stripe is a noticeable character, 

 while to the trained ear its higher, finer, more nasal, slightly drawled 

 yna, yna is quite unlike the White-breast's vigorous yank, yank. The 

 Red-breast has an evident partiality for pine trees, and may be seen 

 hovering about the cones while looking for a foothold from which to 

 extract their seeds. 



729. Sitta pusilla (Lath.). BROWX-IIKADKD NITIIATCH. Ad. Top 

 pnd buck of the head dark grayish brown. ; a whitish patch on the nape; no 



