BROWN-HEADED NUTHATCH. 153 



Plumage soft and blended ; wings of ordinary length, the second, 

 third, and fourth quills longest. Tail short, even, of twelve rounded 

 feathers. 



Bill brownish-black above, and on the tips of ihe lower mandible, the 

 base of which is light greyish-blue. Iris hazel. Feet dusky brown. The 

 general colour of the plumage above is dull leaden grey ; the two middle 

 tail-feathers of the same tint ; the rest black, the margin of the outer- 

 most and the ends of it, and of the three next on each side, white, the 

 tips grey. Upper part of the head and hind-neck light reddish-brown, 

 with a white spot on the hind-neck. The under parts in general are dull 

 white. 



Length 4 inches, extent of wings 8 ; bill along the back -^^, along 

 the edge -^^ ; tarsus y\. • 



Adult Female. Plate CXXV. Fig. 2. 



The female has the tints paler, but in other respects resembles the male. 



