34 SITTA PUSILLA. 



the wing and tail, glaucous. Axillaries and under wing coverts, pale bluish. Feathers at the base of the primaries 

 and on the bend of the wing, white. Tibia, dusky. 



Young, similar, but with a deeper washing of buff beneath. The top of the head and the stripe through the eye 

 are paler. The white of the tail does not extend over as many feathers, becoming obsolete on the central ones. 

 Sexes, alike. Iddes, brown. Bill, dark brown, bluish at the base of the upper and lower mandible. Feet and 

 tarsi, brown. 



OBSERVATIONS. 



This species, without doubt, gradually grades into the "pygnuea" of the West. Specimens from that section 

 have a darker head, where the feathers lack the whitish tips. In fact the entire colors are darker. The white on the 

 tail is more extended, and the bases of the central feathers have a black edging. In this latter particular it differs 

 from those taken further East; but I have a specimen in my collection from Florida, which has a decided indication 

 of a black edging at the base of the central feathers, and think that with a large number of skins, from all sections, 

 I could find a complete series in coloration 'between the two extremes. This species has a distribution throughout 

 the more southern sections of the United States, but I did not find it on the Florida Keys. 



DIMENSIONS. 



Average measurement of twenty-five specimens from Florida. Length, 4-24; stretch, 7-71; wing, 2-45; tail, 

 1-29; bill, -55; tarsus, '59. Longest specimen 5-15; greatest extent of wings, 8O5; longest wing, 2-75; tail 1-50; bill, 

 GO: tarsus, -64. Shortest specimen, 4-00; smallest extent of wings, 7-30; shortest whig, 2-30; tail, 1-15; bill, -47; 

 tarsus -45. 



DESCRIPTION OF NESTS AND EGGS. 



Nests, in Florida, built in holes of trees and composed of the soft fibrous substance which grows about the base 

 of the leaves of the Saw Palmetto.' They are shallow and about two inches in diameter. 



Eggs, oval in form, white in color, spotted and dotted irregularly with reddish-brown, but more thickly on the 

 larger end. Dimensions, from -COx-45 to -62x-48. 



HABITS. 



The pine barrens of Florida are immense woodland plains, which are sometimes rolling, but 

 generally level. The trees grow at rather wide intervals, and the spaces between them are 

 usually covered with a sparse growth of dwarf Palmce. The effect of the early light upon 

 this landscape is fine. The sun shines brightly on the straight, brown trunks of the pines, 

 which rise on all sides, and glances from the shining leaves of the Saw Palmetto, as they are 

 waved by the morning breeze. Fantastic shadows are cast upon the ground by the huge 

 fire-blackened stubs which stretch their gigantic arms high overhead. Light, fleecy clouds move 

 steadily across the blue sky, impelled by the rising wind, which sighs through the masses of 

 dark green foliage, with a sound which reminds one of the roaring of the sea. Indeed, while 

 wandering in these trackless wilds, with the trees apparently crowding together in the distance 

 so as to shut out any very extended view, one seems as much alone as if upon the broad ocean. 

 Many beautiful flowers are blooming in confusion around, yet they are seldom looked upon by 

 any human being, and here where there is not a single trace of the hand of man, one thoroughly 

 realizes that he is in a perfect wilderness which for ages has remained unchanged. The same 

 pines which we now look upon stood where they stand to-day long before the Indians chased 

 the deer upon these wide-spread pasture grounds, and it is extremely probable that centuries 

 will come and go before the slightest change will have taken place. 



Many bird notes greet the ear in this sunny woodland, but none are more in keeping with 

 the prevailing loneliness than the somewhat harsh and solemnly given each each each of the 

 Brown-headed Nuthatch. There is something mysterious about this sound, for although it comes 

 to the ear loudly and clearly, the tiny author of it is so high up among the tops of the tallest 

 trees as to be invisible to the casual observer. They are lively little birds and have all the 

 characteristic movements of their race, running along the under side of the limbs, or down the 

 trunk head first, seeming to spend more than half of their time upside down. They are ever 

 busy, never remaining long on one tree, but will flit quickly from place to place with a rapid 

 undulating flight. They appear to lead a roving life and move about in small flocks in company 



