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



two central rectrices. In S. europaa the two central rectrices are 

 ■uniform plumbeouSj like the back. Sitta himalayensis is found 

 on the southern slopes of the Himalayas^ being numerous in 

 Sikim and about Darjeeling, It also occurs in Nepal {Hodgson) ; 

 Bootan [Pemherton) ; and Kumaon [Strachey). 



5. Sitta castaneiventris, Pranklin : Gould^ B. Asia, pt. i. pi. 8. 

 This Nuthatch, distinguishable by the deep chestnut colouring 



of the breast in the male bird, is the only species of the genus 

 found in the peninsula of India. According to Dr. Jerdon it 

 occurs in nearly all the jungles of Southern and Central India, 

 being most common near Nagpore, in the Vindhyan range, in 

 Bundelkund, in Goomsoor, and in the Northern Circars. 



6. Sitta cinnamomeiventris, Blyth : Gould, B. Asia, pt. i. pi. 7. 

 This Nuthatch is a close ally of the last species, but smaller 



in dimensions, and with the "bill broader and not so much 

 compressed." Dr. Jerdon obtained specimens of it in Sikim. 

 Specimens were collected by Pemberton in Bootan, and by 

 Hodgson in Nepal. 



7. Sitta krueperi, v. Pelzeln. 



This bird, as far as we hitherto know, is only found in Asia 

 Minor, near Smyrna, Mr. Tristram's Sitta krueperi of Palestine 

 (P. Z. S. 1864, p. 433) being, as we have already stated, hardly 

 different from Sitta europcea, var. casia. 



8. Sitta leucopsis, Gould, B. Asia, pt. i. pi. 9. 



This well-marked species belongs to the same group as Sitta 

 carolinensis, and is readily distinguishable from every other 

 Asiatic species by its black head and nape. In Sitta krueperi 

 the nape is grey, like the back. 



Major W. E. Hay's specimens of this species, from which, we 

 believe, Mr. Gould's figures were taken, were obtained in the 

 Mahasoo forest, near Simla, at an elevation of 8,000 feet. 



9. Sitta carolinensis, Lath. 



This well-known species seems to be generally distributed 

 over the North-American continent, from New Brunswick on 

 the east coast and Washington Territory on the west, down to 

 the isthmus of Tehuantepec. Mr. Cassin has separated the 



