GENUS XXV. SITTA. NUTHATCH. 



SPECIES 1. S. CAROLINENS1S. 



WHITE-BREASTED NUTHATCH. 



[Plate II. Fig. 3.] 



Sitta Carolinensis, BRISS. in, p. 596. CATESB. i, 22, jig. 2. 

 LATH, i, 650, B. Sitta Europea, Gray black-capped Nuthatch, 

 BAKTRAM, p. 289. PEALE'S Museum, No. 2036. 



THE bill of this bird is black, the upper mandible straight, 

 the lower one rounded upwards, towards the point, and white 

 near the base; the nostrils are covered with long curving black 

 hairs; the tongue is of a horny substance, and ending in several 

 sharp points; the general colour above is of a light blue or lead; 

 the tail consists of twelve feathers, the two middle ones lead 

 colour, the next three are black, tipt with white for one-tenth, 

 one-fourth, and half of an inch; the two next are also black, tipt 

 half an inch or more with white, which runs nearly an inch up 

 their exterior edges, and both have the white at the tips touched 

 with black; the legs are of a purple or dirty flesh colour; the 

 hind claw is much the largest; the inside of the wing at the 

 bend is black; below this is a white spot spreading over the 

 roots of the first five primaries; the whole length is five inches 

 and a half, extent eleven. 



Mr. Pennant considers this bird as a mere variety of the Eu- 

 ropean Nuthatch; but if difference in size, colour and habits, be 

 sufficient characteristics of a distinct species, this bird is certain- 

 ly entitled to be considered as such. The head and back of the 

 European species is of a uniform bluish gray; the upper parts 

 of the head, neck, and shoulders of ours are a deep black, glossed 

 with green; the breast and belly of the former is a dull orange, 



