226 BIEDS — CERTHIID^. 



It seems difficult to reconcile this with Mr. Brewster's description of the 

 bird in breeding season, unless we suppose the birds to commence build- 

 ing before the completion of the vernal moult. This species sometimes 

 visits the city, though much less frequently than the White-bellied 

 Nuthatch. In the fall they are with us from late in September until the 

 first really cold weather, usually the latter part of November, and fre- 

 quently accompany the Bluebirds on their southern migration. 



SiTTA PUSILLA Lath. 



I 



3Bro-wn-liead.ecl INiitliatcli. % 



Sitfa pusUla. Kirtland, Oblo Geolog. Surv , IHlSsS, 164, 183. — Wheaton, Ohio Agrlo. Eep., 

 for 1860, ae:., 37.5; Eeprint, 1861, 7; Food of Birds, etc., Ohio Agrio. Eep. for 1874, 562; 

 EepriDt, 1875, 2 — Bated, Brew, and Eidg., N. A. Bin s, i, 1874, 122. — CouKS, Birds 

 of Col. Val , Pt. 1st, 1P78, 140. 



Sitta pusUla, Latham, lud. Orn., i, 1790, 263. 



Buck, wings and tail, much as in canadensis. Below pale rusty or brownish white. 

 Crown, clear hair brown; a distinct whitish spot on nape. Length, 4 or less; wing, 2^; 

 tail, li 



Habitat, South Atlantic and Gulf Stales. Ohio, Kirtland ; Michigan, Atkins. 



Accidental. The only instance of its occurence in this State, is re- 

 corded by Dr. Kirtland, who says, " I once killed a specimen in the north- 

 ern part of Ohio." Dr. H. A. Aikin«, of Locke, Ingham county, Michigan, 

 writes me that he took one specimen in 1877, in that vicinity. These 

 are the only instances where the bird is mentioned as wandering beyond 

 its prescribed limits. In breeding habits it resembles the other species. 

 It eggs are described as being so completely covered with fine dots as 

 to appear "almost of a uniform chocolate or brown color. 



FAMILY CERTHIIDiE. CREEPERS. 



Primaries ten. Nostrils exposed. Tail soansorial, with rigid acute feathers. Whole 

 bill slender, compressed, acute, decurved, unnotched, nnbristled. Outer toe much longer 

 than inner. 



Subfamily CERTHIINiE. Typical creepers. 



Tarsus soutellate, shorter than the middle toe and claw, with the entire basal joint 

 united to the lateral toes. 



Genus CERTHIA. Linnasus. 

 Tarsus not longer than outer toe. Hiud toe longer than the middle ; its claw more 

 than half the total length. Claws all much curved and very sharp. Bill as long as the 

 head. Plumage long and lax. 



