RED-BELLIED NUTHATCH. 26 



the male being more prodigal of noise than the female, which, however, 

 now and then answers to his call. 



It is pleasant to see such a pair leading their offspring through the 

 tops of the tall trees of our great pine forests of the north, accompanied 

 by a train of small Woodpeckers and Creepers, all bent on the same object, 

 that of procuring food. Gaily they move from tree to tree, each emitting 

 its peculiar note, and all evincing the greatest sociality. If danger is ap- 

 parent, dead silence takes place, but as soon as their fear is removed, they 

 become as clamorous and lively as before. 



The flight of the Red-bellied Nuthatch is seldom protracted farther 

 than from tree to tree ; and in this manner a certain number go south at 

 the approach of winter, some at this season venturing as far as South 

 Carolina, although they are never seen in the maritime districts of that 

 State. They are plentiful during summer in the Pocano mountains of 

 Pennsylvania, and many breed there. Those which remain in our north- 

 ern States during winter, now and then shew themselves in the orchards and 

 farm-yards, alighting about the eaves of the out-houses, to seek for food. 



While at sea, on one of my migrations from Europe to America, and 

 at a distance of 300 miles from land, I saw one of these birds come on 

 board one evening, during a severe gale. It alighted on the rigging, and 

 proceeded at once to search for food in its usual manner. It was caught 

 and brought to me ; but although I gave it flies and some bits of cheese, 

 it refused to touch them, generally sitting in the bottom of the cage with 

 its head under its wing, and it died in the course of the night. On open- 

 ing it, I could not perceive a particle of food in its stomach, so that its 

 sudden death was probably occasioned by inanition and fatigue. 



SiTTA CANADENSIS Linu. Sjst. Nat. vol. i. p. m.—Lath. Ind. Ornith. p. 262 Ch. 



Bonaparte, Synopsis of Birds of the United States, p. 96. 

 Red-bellied Black-cap Nuthatch, Sitta canadensis, Wilson, Anier. Ornith. 



vol. i. p. 40. PI. 2. fig. 4 Nuttall, Manual, vol. i. p. 583. 



Adult Male. Plate CV. Fig. 1. 



Bill straight, of moderate length, very hard, conico-subulate, a little 

 compressed, more or less wedge-shaped at the tip ; upper mandible with 

 the dorsal outline very slightly arched, the edges sharp towards the point ; 

 lower mandible smaller, of equal length, straight. Nostrils basal, round, 

 half-closed by a membrane, partially covered by the frontal feathers. 



