9 
9) 
the stump of a pine which had been cut down some five feet from the ground. In the stump 
was a hole, no doubt caused by a decayed branch; in this hole was the nest. Like the nests of 
many of the Tits, it seemed to be all lining, a little dry grass, thistle-down, and goat’s hair, a few 
feathers, and quantities of the wing of the pine-cone seed, which is doubtless their favourite food. 
There was no appearance of the entrance of the hole having been in any way plastered with mud, 
as is usually the case with the nest of our Nuthatch. ‘The birds themselves were flitting about 
in the pine-trees as active as ever, having apparently given up all ideas of rearing a family this 
season. We watched them for some time. Like the Syrian Nuthatch they have a variety of 
notes; one reminded me of the common call-note of the Canary, whilst another was not unlike 
a well-known monotonous note of the Great Tit, but more guttural. 
‘““ A few days afterwards we met with several of these interesting little birds among the pines 
in a rocky gorge, two thirds of the way up the mountains. It was a broiling hot day, and we 
were glad enough to lay down and watch them flying from tree to tree. ‘They were by no means 
uncommon; and it is somewhat remarkable that such a perfectly distinct species should have 
remained so long undescribed.” 
In Dresser’s collection are two eggs obtained from Dr. Kriiper, taken out of the above- 
referred-to nest on the 18th of May, 1871. In size these eggs measure $7 by 7} inch, and 
somewhat resemble eggs of Parus major, but are rounder in shape. They are pure white, 
spotted (chiefly at the larger end) with bright red spots. Mr. Seebohm has shown us two eggs 
obtained by him near Smyrna, which are exactly similar to the above-mentioned specimens ; but 
one is somewhat brighter-coloured, being almost as richly marked as eggs of the Creeper. 
The descriptions and figures in the accompanying Plate are those of an old and young bird 
in Dresser’s collection, killed by Dr. Krtiper himself on the 2nd and 21st of June, 1871, in the 
neighbourhood of Smyrna. We have also examined a very richly marked bird in Mr. Seebohm s 
collection, which, however, he informs us, is an unusually bright specimen, and therefore should 
not be described as a typical bird. 
In the preparation of the above article we have examined the following specimens :— 
E Mus. H. E. Dresser. 
a, b, 6, 6 juv. Smyrna, June 2nd and 21st, 1871 (Dr. Kriiper). 
E Mus. H. B. Tristram. 
a. Smyrna, December 28rd, 1871 (Dr. Kriiper). 
. E Mus. H. Seebohin. 
a, 9 ad. Near Smyrna, February 16th, 1872 (Dr. Kriper). 
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