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THE RED BELLIED NUTHATCH. 



SiTTA CANADENSIS, LiNN. 

 PLATE CV. Male and Female. 



While the Brown-headed Nuthatch perambulates the southern dis- 

 tricts, the Red-bellied species spends its time in the eastern and northern 

 States, the two dividing the country, as it were, nearly equally between 

 them. The southern limits of this little bird seldom extend farther than 

 Maryland. It is more plentiful in Pennsylvania, particularly in the 

 mountainous parts of that State, and becomes still more abundant as you 

 proceed towards Maine and Nova Scotia, where the greater number spend 

 even the coldest winters. Yet I saw none in Newfoundland, and only one 

 in Labrador, which had probably been blown thither by a gale. 



I found it building its nest near Eastport in Maine, on the 19th of 

 May, before the Blue Bird had made its appearance there, and while much 

 ice still remained on the northern exposures. The nest is dug in a low 

 dead stump, seldom more than four feet from the ground, both the male and 

 the female working by turns, until they have got to the depth of about 

 fourteen inches. The eggs, four in number, are small, and of a white 

 colour, tinged with a deep blush, and sprinkled with reddish dots. They 

 raise, I believe, only one brood in the season. 



The activity and industry of this little creature are admirable. With 

 the quickness of thought it moves up and down the branches of trees, as- 

 suming various positions, examining every hole or cranny in the bark, 

 frequently rapping against it with its bill, and detaching now and then 

 small fragments, in order to get at the insects or larvae concealed beneath. 

 It searches for its food among the leaves of the tallest pines, along the 

 fences, and on the fallen logs, ever busy, petulant, and noisy, probably 

 never resting except during the night, when, like other species of the 

 tribe, it attaches itself by the feet to the bark, and sleeps head downwards. 

 Like other birds of this genus also, it is careless of man, although it 

 never suffers him to form too close an acquaintance. During the breed- 

 ing season, they move in pairs, and manifest a strong mutual attachment. 

 Their almost incessant hink, hinJc, hink-hink, is heard at every hop they 

 take, but less loudly sounded than the notes of the Brown-headed species. 



