58 BROWN-HEADED NUTHATCH. 



there; the chin, and sides of the neck, under the eyes, are 

 white j the wings dusky; the coverts and three secondaries next 

 the body a slate or lead colour; which is also the colour of the 

 rest of the upper parts; the tail is nearly even at the end, the 

 two middle feathers slate colour, the others black, tipped with 

 slate, and crossed diagonally with a streak of white; legs and 

 feet dull blue; upper mandible black, lower blue at the base; iris 

 hazel. The female differs in having the brown on the head 

 rather darker, and the line through the eye less conspicuous. 



This diminutive bird is little noticed in history, and what 

 little has been said of it, by Europeans, is not much to its credit. 

 It is characterized as " a very stupid bird," which may easily 

 be knocked down, from the sides of the tree, with one's cane. 

 I confess I found it a very dexterous climber; and so rapid and 

 restless in its motions, as to be shot with difficulty. Almost all 

 very small birds seem less suspicious of man than large ones; 

 but that activity and restless diligence should constitute stupidi- 

 ty, is rather a new doctrine. Upon the whole, I am of opinion, 

 that a person who should undertake the destruction of these 

 birds, at even a dollar a head for all he knocked down with his 

 cane, would run a fair chance of starving by his profession. 



