PAUID.E-TUK TITMICE. 117 



Sitta carolinensis, var. aculeata, Cass. 



SLEVDEB-BILLEO HITTHATCH. 



Slltii ocul«if>,. Cassis, l»r. A. N. S-. VIII, Oct. 1856, 2:>4. — Baiko, Birtls N. Am. 18r»S, 

 37.-., i.l. xxxiii, li;;. :{ ; U,.vi»\v, 8(5. — roof Kit, (►ni. <"iil. I, 1»70, i>A. f Sitta oiroli- 

 nru.sis, Sri.AiKU, l\ '/.. S. 1»:,(;, 2i»3 (Conlova) ; 18jH, \\m (Ouxucu); 183^, 3t)3 (XulajKi), 

 373 (Oaxiua). 



Sp. Ciiah. Wry similar to curnliueuxln : '»ut n)tiK'r sccotHlariis with only ohsi-uro 

 ))l!i(kish l>lotih«-s. jiisttNul of sliari)ly delined lougituUitiul spots of clear black. Bill sU-ii- 

 derer and more attiMiuati'il. 



Hah. We«;t.'rn and Mi<Ml,> rroviuees of the United Slates, south to Cordova, Mex. 

 Orizaba (Alpine rf;.'ions), SrMirn. 



The diameters ^^iven uln>ve express the essential ditlerences between this 

 and the hlastern race id" N. nn'o/imn.si'i. In the }»resent t'orni, the depth of the 

 hill opj)osite its luise is .14, the widtli .17, and .80 or more in length 

 from the forehea«l ; while' these same measurements in var. raroNncnsis 

 ai-e .17, .22, and .70. Tlie obsolete (haracter of the black si)ots on the 

 secondaries is a persistent feature in the var. acijlcata. 



Haiuts. This bird chietly differs frrun its eastern congener in its more 

 slender bill. There apj)ears to Ik3 no difference in regard to their habits, at 

 leiist none have been noticed, and it is probable there is none other than 

 trivial changes caused by its oj»port unities of ]>rocuring food, and the kinds 

 upon which it subsists. It is sii]»posed to be distributed throughout Western 

 North America, from tlie Uritish Possessions to Mexico, though Dr. Coo])er 

 thinks that it is not a common bird south of San Francisco, and only to be 

 seen there in the colder months. It lias been met with at San Diego in Feb- 

 ruary. He did not observe any in tlie Coast Mountains, near Santa Cruz, 

 but northward they are numerous in the summer, frequenting chietly the 

 groves of the deciduous oaks, cree]>ing constantly about their trunks and 

 branches in search of insects, which they also occasionally seek on the roofs 

 and walls of houses. Their habits are similar to those of S. canadensis, but 

 their movements are said to be slower, and their note is a single harsh call, 

 uttered occasionally, and responded to by their comrades. Dr. Co(jper found 

 them quite common in Wasliiiigton Territory and at Puget Sound. Dr. 

 Suckley also mentions their great abundance. 



Dr. Kennerly met with this species a Imndred miles west of AlbuquercT[ue, 

 New Mexico, and quite abundant among the pines of the SieiTa Madre. He 

 speaks of its note as being ])eculiar. 



Mr. J. K. Lord states tliat this species remained about Colville during the 

 winter, when the thermometer was 30^ below zero. He also mentions that 

 he found them nesting, in June, in the branches of the tallest pine-trees, so 

 high up as to render the obtaining their eggs almost an impossibility. 



Mr. liidgway found the Slender-billed Nuthatch abundant, throughout the 



