SITTA frontalis. 

 Blue Nuthatch. 



Generic Character. 



Rostrum rectissimum, acutum, compressum ; utroque mandibulo ad apicem (Eque 

 incUnato; apice integro cuneo compresso simili. Nares basales, ovales, 

 aperta, plumis setaceisi ncumhentibus extrinsecus tecta. Pedes trihus digi- 

 tis ant ids ; una postico ; interior minor ; exterior ad basin 7nedio connexus ; 

 hallux productus validus. Ungues compressissimi ; antici subaquales; 

 postico maxima. Cauda brevis, rectricibus duodecim subcequalibus. 

 Typus Genericus ^5. Europaa. 



Bill very straight, sharp-pointed, compressed ; both mandibles equally in- 

 clining to the tip, which is entire, and resembles a compressed wedge. 

 Nostrils basal, oval, open, covered externally with incumbent seta- 

 ceous feathers. Feet with three toes forward and one backward; 

 inner toe very small ; outer toe connected to the middle at its base; 

 hind toe lengthened, strong. Claws much compressed; anterior nearly 

 jequal, posterior largest. Tail short, of twelve nearly equal feathers. 

 Generic Type Sitta Europaa. 



Specific Character. 

 iS. supra carulea ; supercilio, fronte, et remigibus lateralibus in medio nisris ; 

 subtus cinereo-fusca, aures lilacimc, mento albo. 



Nuthatch, above blue : line above the eye, front, and middle of the lateral 



tail-feathers black ; beneath cinereous brown, ears lilac, chin white. 

 Orthorynchus frontalis. Horsfield in Linn. Trans. 



1 HE present species is one of the many interesting birds col- 

 lected in Java by my friend Dr. Horsfield : it was not, however, 

 until I had described and engraved another specimen, sent to 

 Sir J. Banks from Ceylon, that I discovered the species had 

 already been included in the Doctor's account of the birds of 

 Java, presented to the Linneean Society, where he has described 

 it under the name of Orthorynchus frontalis. 



The specific name of its first describer is of course retained : 

 with respect, however, to its generic situation, I must be allowcj 

 PI. 2. 



