MR. GAMBEL ON THE BIEDS OF CALIFORNIA. 33 



Nuttall, who brought this species from California, did not procure the male, but 

 saw it frequently, and supposed it to have a yellow spot on the crown. I discovered 

 that that which deceived him in this respect was the glutinous pollen of a tubular 

 flower upon which it feeds, adhering to the rigid feathers of the crown, and making 

 it look as if it really had a yellow head. I have also seen the bill for half its length 

 covered in the same manner. 



SITTA, Linn. 



27. S. CAROLiNENSis, Briss. Carolina Nuthatch. 



This species is common in the pines of the Rocky Mountains, and also in the 

 wooded regions of the western coast. 



28. S. CANADENSIS, Linn. Canada Nuthatch. 



I found this little wanderer very abundant in the mountains of the interior of 

 California in October, roving in company with busy flocks of the Parus montanus, 

 nobis. 



29. S. PYGMJ3A, Vigors. Pigmy Nuthatch. 



Extremely abundant in winter in Upper California, sometimes almost covering the 

 trunks and branches of the pine trees, through which they exclusively forage. 

 Around Monterey, particularly, the trees at times are alive with these noisy little 

 creatures, incessantly uttering their monotonous querulous notes as they run around 

 the branches. The note is generally a repeated whistling, wit, wit, which, when one 

 commences, the rest join in ; they also utter a whistling trill, at the same time indus- 

 triously searching the tree throughout, and only leaving it when every crack has 

 been examined for the concealed insect fare. 



TROGLODYTES, VieUl 

 -30. T. BEWicKii, Aud. Bewick's Wren. 



T. spilurus, Vig. Zool. Beechey's voyage. 

 Common, keeping in low bushes and piles of brush, as well as about old dead trees 

 and logs, over and around which it flits with the greatest activity, uttering, when 

 approached, the usual grating scold of the virens. 



31* T. ARUNDiNACEUs, Vieill. Marsh Wren. 

 Certhia palustris, Wils. 

 I found this species in small reedy marshes in the Rocky mountains of the interior, 

 in October. 



32. T. AMERiCANUS, Aud. Wood Wren. 



A summer resident among the evergreen oaks of California, in which it sings and 



breeds. 



9 



