NUTHATCH, 65.5 



Sitta (Chinenfis) palpebra inferiore purpurea, OJb. Voy. ii. p. 52- 7- 



CHINESEi 



N. 

 HTHIS is a little larger than a Goldfinch. The bill and head Description,. 



are black : the back, from head to tail, dark ferruginous* 

 with a blueilh caft : breafb and belly white ; but towards the 

 throat black : the head is crefted, and confifts of black feathers, 

 which are longer than the bill : near the eye is an oblong fmall 

 fcarlet fpot ; and clofe to this a large one, as white as fnow : from 

 the temples to the throat runs a black line : the chin and throat 

 itfelf are white, but this white is encompafTed with black, except 

 a white line in the middle of the breaft, which joins the white 

 of the throat with the fnowy breaft : the rump is yellow : 

 the quill feathers, which are nineteen in number, have ferruginous 

 dark coverts : the tail feathers are twelve in number, and blackifh, 

 with white tips. 



This bird inhabits China, where it is called Kcw-kay-konn. It Psagk.. 



is kept more for its beauty, than for its fine fong, for it fings but 

 little. Its' food is boiled rice. 



I have feen this not unfrequently painted in Chinefe paper- 

 hangings,. 



6enu$. 



