PASSERES 
SS) 
Coloration variable, In the subfamily Sittimae above plain bluish grey or blue; pileum 
and hindneck, at least partly, sometimes black or brown; the rectrices (except in the so-called 
Rock-Nuthatches : genus Sitfa, nos. 40-46) partly black and white; under parts white, buff, 
greyish, cinnamomeous, chestnut or vinaceous, or parti-coloured. In the subfamily Neosittinae 
above grey or brown, streaked with dusky or blackish (Neositta), or black (Daphaenositta) ; rump 
and upper tail coverts mostly white (Neositta) or spotted with rosy red (Daphaenositta); pileum 
white, dark grey or black; beneath white in Neositta, either uniform, or with dusky streaks, 
black in Daphaenositta; wings blackish, inner web of quills with middle portion cinnamon- 
rufous or white (except in the two Papuan species of Neositta), rectrices blackish, the outer 
ones tipped with white (Neositta) or pink (Daphaenositta). 
Geographical Distribution. Palzarctic, Nearctic, ndo-Malayanand Australian Regions. 
Habits and Nidification. The Nuthatches are expert climbers, running up and down 
the trunks of trees or the faces of cliffs and rocks, often head downward, which the Tree- 
creepers are unable to do. The members of the genera Sitta and Callisitta build their nest, a 
loose, bulky structure, in holes of trees or crevices of rocks, the clutch consists of from five to 
nine eggs, which are white, more or less speckled and blotched with reddish. The species of 
Neositta, on the other hand, place their large, smoothly made nest in a dead fork of an eucalyp- 
tus-tree; the eggs, three or four in number, are greenish or bluish white with dark brown spots. 
Observations. It is somewhat difficult to draw a line between the Siftidae and Certhiidae, 
certain genera of the latter group (Tichodroma, Climacteris) bemg decidedly intermediate, 
though more nearly related to Certhia than to Sitta. From the osteological investigations of 
Mr. F. A, Lucas it would seem that the Sittidae are, however, quite distinct from the Paridae, 
with which they have been associated by several authors, The osteological characters of the 
Sittidae having been given in full in the « Tierreich » I need not dwell again on this subject. 
Bibliography. Gadow, Cat. Birds Brit. Mus. Vol. 8, 1883, p. 340-365; Hellmayr, Tierreich, Livr. 18, 
1903, p. 168-201; Ridgway, Bull. U. S. Nat. Mus. no. 50, Part 3, 1904, p. 436-459. 
KEY TO THE SUBFAMILIES AND GENERA OF SITTIDA: 
1. Bill vather broad at base, where its depth about equals its width, not compressed oy 
very slightly so in terminal portion. Nostrils non-operculate oy with operculum 
very indistinct, posteriorly more or less concealed by antrorse latevo-frontal plu- 
miles. Second primary about equal to seventh 
Nd 
~ eo se es 2) 3. 22 (Sublam). Simcines)s 
— Bill extremely slendey, much compressed laterally, at base much deeper than 
wide. Nostrils distinctly operculate, entively exposed. Second primary equal 
to fifth 
2. Bill strong, not compressed teyvminally, nearly or fully as long as head or 
uo 
. (Subfam. NeosiTTIv£). 
tarsus. Nostrils almost completely hidden by dense, antrorse latero-frontal 
Plamulest?s BATE BD PGA RIE ES ies Oy A ee ee Og eee Ten (GEDLISROLURIAS 
— Bill slender, distinctly compressed terminally, decidedly shorter than head or tarsus. 
Nostrils partly exposed, only posteriorly concealed by a few bristly feathers, . 2. Genus CALLisiTta. 
