68 



BIRDS OF THE BRITISH ISI.ES. 



Common IRutbatcb, 



THE Common Nuthatch (Sit/a ccusia, Wolf) is a very local 

 resident species, being met with principally in England. It 

 is of rare occurrence in Scotland, and, so far, has not 

 been known to occur in Ireland. It also inhabits Central 

 Europe, and is found in Asia Minor and Palestine. The 

 adult has the upper parts slaty-blue ; chin, whitish, shading 

 into brownish-buff beneath ; flanks, tinged with chestnut ; 

 from the base of the bill a black band reaches to each eye, 

 extending behind the eye along the sides of the neck ; 

 primaries, greyish-brown ; tail-feathers, with the exception of 

 centre ones, black, tipped with grey ; outermost rectrices, 

 blackish, tipped with grey and barred with white; irides, 

 hazel ; bill, dark horn colour ; base beneath, whitish ; legs 

 and feet, pale brown. Length, about five inches. 



