Mr. P. L. Sclater on the known Species of Sitta. 309 



Afghanistan, by Mr. William Griffith, during the government 

 expedition to those countries, do not materially differ from the 

 European bird, so that we may conclude that it inhabits all the 

 intermediate region of Western Asia. 



3. Sitta europaa, Linn. 



This well-known species, under its two forms, uralensis (sive 

 sibirica) and ccesia, seems to be distributed nearly all over the 

 northern portion of the Palsearctic Region, except the Himalayas. 

 Dr. Blasius has written an excellent article on the subject of its 

 variations in 'Naumannia^ for 1856 (p. 433), which should be 

 studied by those who still hold out for the specific distinctness 

 of the white and rufous-breasted forms. 



In Middle and Southern Europe (including the British Islands) 

 Sitta ccBsia is the predominant form. In middle and northern 

 Germany, in Denmark, and in many provinces of Russia, an 

 intermediate stage occurs, which Brehni calls Sitta advena. In 

 Scandinavia, northern Russia, and throughout Siberia, Sitta 

 uralensis is the usual form, although Von Schrenck has shown 

 that S. ciesia and intermediate varieties also occur in southern 

 Amoorland. In Japan Sitta uralensis is found in the northern 

 islands of Yesso *, and possibly S. ccesia in the southern 

 islands f. 



In Mr. Tristram^s recent article on the " Birds of Palestine " 

 (P. Z. S. 1864, p. 433), he has introduced what appears to me to 

 be scarcely more than a slight variety of the Sitta europaa, var. 

 ccesia, under the name Sitta krueperi. The under-surface of the 

 Palestine bird is of a deeper rufous than in ordinary European 

 specimens, but is hardly otherwise different. Sitta europcea, 

 var. ccesia, likewise occurs in Algeria J. 



4. Sitta himalayensis, Jard. & Selb. : Gould, B. Asia, pt. i. 

 pi. 10. 



This is the Himalayan form of Sitta europcea, from which it may 

 be distinguished by the distinct white spot near the base of the 



* See Cassin, Proe. Acad. Sc. Phil. 1858, p. 195. Capt. Blakiston calls 

 this species " 8. roseilia, Bp.", in his interesting article in ' Ibis,' 1862, 

 p. 322. 



t Cf. Von Schrenck, Amoorland, i. p. 31-1. 



X Cf. Loche, Cat. p. 77. 



