<326 HISTORY OF THE 



covered by a tuft of bristles directed forward. Tarsi stout, scutellate, about 

 equal to the middle toe, much shorter than the hinder, the claw of which is half 

 the total length. Outer lateral toe much longer than inner, and nearly equal 

 to the middle. Tail very short, broad, and nearly even ; the feathers soft and 

 truncate. Wings reaching nearly to the end of the tail ; long and acute, the 

 first primary one-third of (or less) the third, or longest." 



Sitta carolinensis LATH. 



WHITE-BREASTED NUTHATCH. 

 PLATE XXXIV. 



Resident; very common in suitable localities in the eastern 

 part of the State; not uncommon westward. Begin laying about 

 the last of April. 



B. 277. R. 51. C. 57. G. 19, 318. U. 727. 



HABITAT. Eastern United States and southern British Prov- 

 inces; resident west to the Rocky Mountains. (Replaced west- 

 ward by S. carolinensis aculeata.) 



SP. CHAR. "Above, ashy blue; top of head and neck black; under parts and 

 sides of head to a short distance above the eye white; under tail coverts and 

 tibial feathers brown; concealed primaries white; bill stout. Female with black 

 of head glossed with ashy." 



Stretch of 

 Length. wing. Wing, Tail. Tarsus. Bill. 



Male 5.90 10.80 3.60 2.00 .73 .78 



Female 5.60 -10.50 8.50 1.90 .71 .75 



Iris dark brown; bill black, with basal two-thirds of under blu- 

 ish; legs and feet slaty $ sometimes olive brown; claws blackish. 



These singular birds are quite common in the woodlands 

 throughout their range. They often visit the orchards and 

 shade trees about our dwellings, especially during the winter 

 months, but prefer the deep woods for their summer home. 

 Outside of the breeding season, are occasionally to be met with 

 in small flocks and in company with the Chickadees, but as a 

 rule are rather solitary, and when found in company more of an 

 accident than from choice, differing in this respect from others 

 of the genus. They readily attract attention by their peculiar, 

 ringing, nasal " Chank-chank, " and odd habit of creeping about 

 on the bodies of trees, head downward as well as upward; this 

 they are enabled to do on account of the formation of their 

 feet and claws. The latter are curved and sharp, and the hind 

 toe long, reaching back on a level with the front ones far enough 

 to balance the body, and is formed to cling to the bark like an 



