SITTA. 299 



The Nuthatches are a \\vll-deliurd group of small climbing birds 

 allied in many respects to the OwtterOpodidct. The habit. of climb- 

 ing, however, h:is causal the hind toe to he greatly developed ami 

 the inner front toe to be dwarfed. 



hi the $illitl<r the bill is about as long as the liead. stout and 

 straight. The nostrils are co\ered with some hairs, and the rirtal 

 bristles are strong. The \\ing is rather pointed, and the lirsl pri- 

 marv is always less than half the length of the second. The tail 

 is short and square or very slightly rounded. 



The Nuthatches feed on insects and hard fruits such as nuts. 

 They nest in the holes of trees or rocks, and they generally employ 

 mud to reduce the si/e of the entrance to their nest. They are 

 non-migratory, and for the most part of limited distribution. 

 Eleven species are found in India. 



Genus SITTA, Linn., 1766. 



The characters of this, the only genus of Nuthatches represent -d 

 in India, are the same as those of the family. 



Fig. 94. Head of 8. cinnamomeivcntris. 



Key to the Species. 



Uppor plumage uniform bluish. 

 a'. Middle pair of tail-feathers white nt 



base S. fttfuafaytfttt*, p. 300. 



//. Middle pair of tail-feathers uniform, 



without any white. 

 a". Lateral tail-feathers with white 



spots. 

 a'". Under tail-coverts white, tipped 



with chestnut. 

 a 4 . Lower plumage chestnut. 



a 5 . The chestnut of the lower 

 plumage of uniform colour 



from throat to vent S. cinnamomeiventns^ 



/A The chestnut of the lower [p. 301, 



parts paler on the throat and 

 oreast than on the nhdomen. S. neglecta, p. 301 . 



6 4 . Lower plumage grey S. nayaensis, p. 302. 



ft". Under tail-coverts chestnut, tipped 



with white S. magna, p. 303. 



c". Under tail-coverts chestnut, cen- 

 tred with ashy ; no white. 

 c 4 . Lower plumage paler ; size large, 



wing 3-3 S. kashmircmis, p. 303. 



