to dissent from considering it as a distinct genus, merely from the 

 prolongation of the hinder toe being somewhat more developed 

 than in Sitta Europaa and Carolinensis, both which birds are 

 now before me, and which in themselves differ in the relative 

 proportion of this part : thus in .S'. Carolinensis the hind toe and 

 claw is two-tenths of an inch shorter than the leg ; in iS'. Europaa 

 it is one-tenth shorter ; and in the present species it just exceeds 

 that of the leg : in e\ ery other respect not the slightest difference 

 1 apprehend will be observed, as the foregoing generic character 

 has been drawn up from these three species. 



Total length five inches. Size of the European Nuthatch. Bill, 

 from the angle of the mouth to the tip, eight lines ; front of the 

 head velvet-black, continued in a stripe of the same colour over 

 the eye, and terminating above the ear feathers : the upper plu- 

 mage is of a rich blue, more brilliant on the head, and paler on 

 the front, and external margins of the quills. Spurious wings 

 and lesser quills black margined with blue. Inner wing-covers 

 deep black ; the under plumage is a light-brown, changing to lilac 

 on the ears and sides of the neck, and tinged with cinereous on 

 the flanks and vent : the chin is white ; tail even, the two middle 

 feathers blue, the rest more or less black, having the external 

 margins and tips blue. The outer quill of the wings is short, the 

 second and third longest and equal, the fourth rather less ; the 

 hind toe with the claw, measures one inch in a straight line. 



