3 
America in the United States, is common in Canada, and across to British Columbia, and has been 
obtained by Dr. Rae in lat. 66° N. 
2492. S. pusilla, Lath.,is a very small Nuthatch, dark plumbeous grey on the back, and dull brownish grey 
on the underparts, the crown and nape being rich reddish brown. It is found in the Southern Atlantic 
States of North America—South Carolina and Georgia being its head quarters. 
2493. S. pygmea, Vigors. Differs from the preceding species in having the back brighter in colour, and the 
head light brownish grey instead of rich reddish brown. It is found on the west coast of North America, 
where it replaces S. pusilla. Dr. Sclater has a specimen collected by De Oca at Xalapa. 
2494. S. aculeata, Cassin, is, I take it, a mere variety of S. carolinensis. 
2495. S. kriiperi, Pelz., is a small Nuthatch, easily distinguished by its black forehead and broad chestnut 
pectoral band; otherwise it has the upper parts plumbeous blue, the throat white, and abdomen 
cinereous. It has only been met with in Asia Minor. Full particulars as to its habits and range have 
been given in a former part of the present work. 
2496. S. villosa, Verr. (Nouv. Arch. du Mus., Bulletin, vol. i. p. 78, pl. 5. fig. 1). I have been unable to - 
examine a specimen. It is described as inhabiting North China, and somewhat resembling Sitta 
canadensis, having a black head; but the underparts are described as being greyish rufous (cinereo- 
rufescens) . 
Tue range of the present species of Nuthatch may be described as Central and Southern Europe ; 
for, though it has been stated to have occurred in Siberia, it appears to be much rarer in Asia 
than its northern ally, Sitta europea. Mr. Blanford, however, brought home an undoubted 
specimen of Sitta cesia from Persia. 
In Great Britain it is the only species found, as I know of no record of the occurrence here 
of its northern representative, Sitta ewropwa. It is a common species in the south of England, 
especially in the nut-growing portions of Kent and other southern counties, where, owing to its 
predilection for nuts, it is by no means a favourite. Mr. Cecil Smith informs me that it is 
common in Somersetshire, especially in the orchards, and is called by the country-folk Blue 
Woodpecker. Mr. A. G. More gives its range as “ throughout England, but rare in the north- 
western counties. Mr. Eyton describes the Nuthatch as common in Shropshire and North 
Wales. Mr. Gregson considers it numerous at Dunhorn Park, on the Cheshire side of the 
Mersey, and also in the woods at Wyresdale. North Lancashire; but Mr. Brockholes has not 
met with it in either county. Dr. Heysham records one pair as breeding regularly, in his day, 
in Cumberland. Mr. Hancock marks the Nuthatch as breeding occasionally in Durham; and 
Mr. Selby has found the nest in Northumberland.” In Scotland it is extremely rare; and Mr. 
Robert Gray only gives three recent instances of its occurrence—one in Haddingtonshire, one in 
Berwickshire, and one on Shetland; and as regards Ireland there is no authentic instance of its 
ever having occurred there. 
Throughout Europe it is tolerably widely distributed, nowhere very numerous, but not 
rare in any suitable locality as far north as Denmark, where it meets with Sitta europea, 
which species alone then occurs towards the north. Regarding its range in that country my 
friend Mr. Alfred Benzon writes to me that it “occurs on the peninsula of Jutland, and occa- 
sionally also on Fyen, where it appears to meet and join with the northern form. I do not 
know of its occurrence on the other islands, where the white-bellied variety alone appears to 
occur.” ‘Throughout the whole of Germany the present species is the only Nuthatch to be met 
