SITTA. 303 



319. Sitta magna. The Giant Nuthatch. 



Sitta magna, Wardlaw Ramsay, P. Z. S. 1876, p. 077, pi. Ixiii; Hume 

 S. F. v, p. 343 ; Ward law 'Ramsay, Ibis, 1877, p. 465 ; Hume $ 

 Dav. S. F. vi, p. 201 ; Hume, Cat. no. 248 quat. ; Gates, B. B. 

 i, p. 133 ; Gadow, Cat. B. M. viii, p. 345. 



Coloration. Female. Two broad black bands from the nostrils 

 through the eyes to the shoulders; the space within these smoky 

 grey, paling on the hind neck ; upper plumage slaty blue ; wings 

 brown, edged with slaty blue ; middle tail-feathers slaty blue ; 

 the next two pairs black with a slaty-blue tip; the next two 

 black, with a subterminal patch of white and a slaty-blue tip ; the 

 outermost pair the same, but with a band of white on the outer 

 web ; lores, sides of the head, chin, and throat whitish ; lower 

 plumage smoky grey ; thighs, vent, and under tail-coverts chestnut, 

 the latter broadly tipped with white ; under wing-coverts black, 

 followed by a white patch at the base of the primaries only visible 

 from below. The male is not known. 



In the dry skin the bill is bluish, paler below ; legs fleshy 

 brown. 



Length about 8 ; tail 27 ; wing 4-6 ; tarsus '9 ; bill from 

 gape 1-3. 



Distribution. The unique specimen from which this species was 

 described was procured by AVardlaw Eamsay in Karenuee, or near 

 its western borders, in January. This bird has not again been met 

 with. 



320. Sitta kashmirensis. B rooks s Nuthatch. 



Sitta cashmirensis, Brooks, Proc. A. S. B. 1871, p. 209 ; id. J. A. 

 S. B. xli, pt. ii, p. 75; Hume, Cat. no. 248 bis; Gadoto, Cat. 

 B. M. viii, p. 352. 



Coloration. Upper plumage and wings slaty blue ; a black band 

 from the nostrils to the shoulders through the eyes ; chin and sides 

 of the face dull white tinged with fulvous ; throat more fulvous, 

 the lower plumage gradually becoming deeper and turning to deep 

 chestnut on the abdomen, flanks, and under tail-coverts ; middle 

 tail-feathers ashy blue ; the next two pairs black, edged and tipped 

 with ashy ; the next t,wo black, with a subterminal white spot on 

 the inner web ; the outermost feather black, with a white patch on 

 each web and a brown tip ; under wing-coverts blackish, followed 

 by a white patch on the primaries visible only from below ; some 

 traces of ashy are generally visible on the centres of the feathers 

 of the under tail-coverts. 



Length about 5 ; tail 1*7; wing 3*3; tarsus 7; bill from gape 

 95. 



Distribution. I have examined specimens of this species procured 

 at Hirpur and Gulinurg in Kashmir, at Murree, and at Byan 

 Kheyl in Afghanistan. Brooks notes it in his original description 

 as coming from the pine-forests of Kashmir. 



