110 



VEUTEBKATA. 



mcthuil «'(' (•utwittiiig liim, if you arc alono, is, as soon as lie alights and disappears bchiiiJ the 

 truiili, to take your stand bchiiul an adjoining one, and keep a sharp look-out twenty or thirty feet 

 up the body of the tree ho is upon, for he generally mounts very regularly to a considerable 

 height, examining the whole way as he advances. In a minute or two, hearing all still, he will 

 make his appearance on one side or other of the tree, and give you an opportunity of observing 

 him. These birds are distribiited over the whole United States, but are most numerous in the 

 Western and Northern States ; their haunts are in the depths of the forests, and in tracts of large 

 timbered woods, where they usually breed, visiting the thicker settled parts of the country in fall 



and winter." 



The C. albifrons is found in Texas; it is five and a quarter inches long, dark brown spotted. 



The "Wall-Creeper of Europe, Tichodroma muraria, seeks its insect food on rocks and in 

 walls; it is chiefly found in the mountainous parts of Southern Europe; it is permanent though 

 rare at Rome, beinfr sometimes seen on the exterior walls of St. Peter's. 



The Tree-Creepers, DendrocolajJtince, found in the vast forests of South America, resemble 

 the species we have described ; the form of the bill, however, is variable, in some cases being very 

 lono- and bent downward. The Sijnallaxince are an allied group, but which not only devour in- 

 sects upon the trees, but worms and snails on the ground. They are remarkable for the large 

 size of their nests, those of one species measuring three or four feet in length. 



THE COMMON' ECROPEAX XCTHATCU. 



THE SITTINiE OE NUTHATCHES. ' 



!, 



Genus SITTA : Sitta. — This includes several species. The Common European Nuthatch — |j 

 the Pic Macon of the French, and Blauspecht of the Germans — S. Europwa, is a small bird, five 

 inches long, blue-gray above, below rufous-brown. It runs with fjicility up ar i down the branches 

 and trunks of trees, its head often down, but having no assistance in this from its tail-feathers. It , 

 sleeps with the head down, and generally alights in that position. It is almost constantly in mo- j 

 tion, its food consisting of berries, insects, larvae, and nuts. It derives its name from the hatches 

 or hammerings which it makes on nuts, either for obtaining insects or the kernels. Its call in j 

 the spring is a clear, shrill whistle. The nest is made with a few dry leaves in the hole of a tree. ' 

 If the hole is too large the bird reduces it by plastering up a part with mud. The eggs are five to 

 seven in number. This bird is common throughout Europe. 



Other foreign species are the *S'. rupestris, S. Si/riaca, S. Uralensis, and S. Asiatica; there 

 are also closely allied species in the Indian Archipelago and Australia. 



The White-breasted Nuthatch, S. CaroUnensis, is five inches long; the head and back of 

 the neck are glossy black ; the back bluish-black ; beneath white. It is found from Mexico to 

 Maine, and is one of the birds that enliven our forests after the cold season has commenced and 

 other birds have departed. It feeds on spiders, insects, larv«, (fee. 



Other American species are the Red-bellied Nuthatch, S. Canadensis ; the Brown-headed 

 Nuthatch, S.pusilla; and the California Nuthatch, S. pigmcea. 



