308 Mr. P. L. Sclater on the known Species of Sltta. 



I take the opportunity of adding a few notes on the other 

 known species of the genus. 



The Old- World or Palseogean species of Sitta are nearly con- 

 fined to the Palsearctic Region; one species only being found 

 within the Indian Region. They number eight species, which 

 may be divided into the following sections : — 



1. The large isolated Sitta formosa. 



2. The middle-sized species allied to S. europaa, all of which 

 are plumbeous above, have a black line through the eye. Of 

 this group we know five — namely, S. syriaca, S. europaa , S. 

 himalayensis, S. cinnamomeiventris, and S. castaneiventris. 



3. The little Sitta kruepei^i, which stands quite alone. 



4. Sitta leucopsis of the Himalayas, which is most nearly allied 

 to S. carolinensis of North America. 



The New- World or Neogean members of the group are four 

 in number, all very easily distinguishable if we treat S. aculeata 

 as a local form of >S^. carolinensis. 



I add a few remarks, chiefly relating to the geographical dis- 

 tribution of these twelve species. 



1. Sitta formosa, Blyth : Gould, B. Asia, part i. pi. 6. 



This fine species is readily known by its large size and brilliant 

 colouring, being of a fine cobalt-blue above, and thus distinct 

 from the other known species of Sitta, which ai'c all of some 

 shade of plumbeous on the back. It somewhat reminds one of 

 the allied genus Dendrophila. According to Dr. Jerdon (B. 

 India, i. p. 387), it has hitherto only been met with in Sikim, at 

 an elevation of from 7,000 to 8,000 feet. 



2. Sitta syriaca, Ehrenb. 



This fine large species, although as regards its coloration 

 appertaining to the typical group, differs in habit and slightly 

 in structure, being entirely a rock-climbing species. It extends 

 from Dalmatia and Epirus (where it is common *) over the 

 Grecian peninsula and Asia Minor f into Palestine, where speci- 

 mens were recently obtained by Mr. Tristram J. 



Examples collected in Candahar and in the Bolan pass, 



* Lord Lilford in ' Ibis,' 1860, p. 232. 



t Neighbourhood of Smyrna (Gonzenbach). 



+ P.Z. S. 1864, p. 433. 



