384 BIRDS OF INDIA. 



has no call-note. In Europe, it descends in winter from its Alpine 

 home, and is found on walls of old buildings, whence the name 

 given by Linnaeus. It is stated to breed in clefts and holes of rocks 

 and buildings, and that the eggs are of a fine, almost vermilion, 

 red. 



The only other genus of the sub-family is Climacteris, an Aus- 

 tralian form, nearly allied to the Melliphagidce. 



Sub-fam. Sitting, Nuthatches. 



Bill of moderate length, nearly straight, stout, compressed at 

 the tip ; wings moderate ; tail short, even ; toes long and slender ; 

 outer toe longest, syndactyle. 



The Nuthatches are chiefly found in the Old World and Austra- 

 lia, but there are a few species in North America. They climb 

 trees in every direction, but do not use their tail ; and seek for 

 insects in the crevices of the bark, scalinsj it off with their strons^ 

 pointed beaks. They breed in holes of trees, making a nest of 

 dead leaves, and laying several eggs, white, with rust-coloured spots. 

 By some the Nuthatches are looked on as having affinities with 

 the Titmice. 



Gen. SiTTA, Lin. 



Cliar. — Bill moderate, straight, wedge-shaped ; tip entire, barely 

 dcilexed ; nostrils basal, rounded, covered by setaceous tufts ; 

 wings rather long, 1st quill short, 4th and 5th equal and longest ; 

 tail short, even soft ; feet short, strong ; the inner toe very short ; 

 outer nearly equal to the middle one, all cleft to the base ; hind 

 toe long, equal to the tarsus; claws strong, broad, and well curved. 



The European Nuthatch is said to live on nuts sometimes (hence 

 its name), which it is said to fix in some convenient crevice 

 and then break by hammering at them with its bill. This habit 

 has not been observed ^in any of the Indian Nuthatches. The 

 European bird is said to breed in holes of trees, often choosing a 

 deserted Woodpecker's nest, and is described to contract the orifice 

 by a plaster of clay ; the nest is made of leaves ; the eggs are 

 6 or 7 in number, white, with rust-colored spots. There are 

 several American species of the genus. 



