BROWX -HEADED NUTHATCH. 33 



harsher. I knew at once that it could be produced by no other than the Crested Titmouse, and 

 by advancing a few paces we perceived that I was correct, for there was a large flock of them 

 among the trees. They were busily engaged in searching for insects; turning upside down, 

 clinging to the under sides of the limbs, in fact behaving almost exactly like overgrown 

 Black-caps, hut were not quite as agile as that species, and when they raised their crests, 

 which they did frequently, resembled miniature Blue Jays. They were not as inquisitive as 

 our common bird, but very unsuspicious, and would alight in the gardens within a few paces of 

 pedestrians. They were restless, and we had not watched them long before they moved 

 onward, flying with a heavy undulating motion. 



I have always found them in small flocks during the colder season, moving about the 

 country apparently without purpose. They are never seen in the piny woods, but usually 

 frequent the hummocks, and I have heard their loud notes in the thick cypress swamps along the 

 rivers. When moving they are very noisy, sounding the short grating "chick-a-dce" almost 

 constantly. This is all the song which I ever heard them utter, but when alarmed they emit 

 a querulous sound. When one is wounded and caught, it will cry for assistance so loudly 

 that all of its companions, within hearing, will gather closely around scolding most 

 vociferously, at the same time raising their crests, jerking their tails, ruffling their feathers; 

 thus showing, by every motion, as much rage as any bird of their size is capable of exhibiting. 

 Nor is this all ostentation; they are truly solicitous for the safety of their unfortunate 

 friend, and will remain in the immediate vicinity until many are killed. About the first of 

 .March these companies break up into pairs and may be found with migrating warblers. I have 

 never seen a nest, and do not think they breed in Florida for I did not meet with a single 

 specimen while on the St. John's in May. 



FAMILY V. SITTUXE. THE NUTHATCHES. 



iini. narrow ; not being mdi-r than half the length of the, top of the keel. Coracoid bones, shorter than in the two 



'/'/,, ,,i"riiinal indentations are also shallower; being only one-third as deep as the length of the top of 



tli'' /' i-l. Dirt', n fi-urn Paridae in having a longer and more aruminute bill. The tongue is not only long and linear but 



the end. Tail, very short; wings, long and pointed. 



Tin- tongues of the Nuthatches are peculiar; being long, thin, and of a horny appearance. They vary greatly In 

 length unions individuals of the same species, and the end has a jagged appearance as if worn away by constant use. 



GENUS I. SITTA. THE NUTHATCHES PROPER. 



OKX. On. The same as are given for the family. 



There is but one genus of the Sittidoe In the United States, upon which I have based the family characters as 

 givrn above, and which will also answer for generic. 



SITTA PUSILLA. 

 Brown-headed Nuthatch. 

 Sitta Pusilla Lath., Index, Orn. I, 1790, 263. 

 Sitta pygmeea In BAIUD, Birds of North America, and of previous authors. 



DESCRIPTION. 



SP. Cn. Form, rather stout. Size, small. Bill, not very long and somewhat acuminate. Tail, but slightly 

 rounded. Sternum, not stoutly built. Keel, rather short, scarcely exceeding the length of the eoncold bones; but 

 It is as high as one-half of the width of the sternum. Tongue, quite long and narrow. 



COLOK. Adult. Above, dull slaty-blue. Top of head and ii|)|>i-r part of the sides of the neck, pale brown ; with 

 every feather tipped with whitish. There is a spot of silky-white on the nape. A line commencing at the base of the 

 bill, running through the eye and crossing the ear eo\ i IN. dark brown. Upper surface of the tail, black ; with the 

 two central feathers like the back; all the feathers are tipped with brownish, which on the six outer is preceded by 

 a bar of white. There is also a narrow line of white on the two middle feathers near the base. Wings above, 

 brownish. edged with white on both webs. Beneath, dirty white: purest on the chin and sides of the neck, 

 but tinged with buff on the breast and abdomen. The sides and Hanks are like the back. Under portions of 



BIRDS OF FLORIDA. 6 



