378 



V. S. p. K. E. EXP. AND SURVEYS — ZOOLOGY — GENERAL REPORT. 



SITTA PYGMAEA, Vigors. 



Calilbrnia Nuthatch. 



Sim pygmaca, Vigors, Zool. Beeehey'a Voyage, 1839, 25 ; pi. iv.-AuDDBON, Orn. Biog. V, 1839, 63 ; pi. 415.-Ib. 

 Syn. 1839, 168.-Ib. Birds Amer. IV, 1842, 184 ; pi. 250.-Newberrt, Zool. Cal. Or. Route ; P. R. R. 

 Rep. VI, IT, 1857, 79. 

 Sp. CH—Above ashy blue ; head and upper part of neck greenish ashy brown, its lower border passing a little below the eye, 

 where it is darker ; nape with an obscure whitish spot Chin and throat whitish ; rest of lower parts brownish white ; the s.des 

 and behind like the back, but paler. Middle tail feather like the back ; its basal half with a long white spot -, its outer web 

 edged with black at the base. Length about 4 inches ; wing, 2.40. 

 Hab. — Pacific coast and towards Rocky mountains. 



Third, fourth, and fifth quills nearly equal and longest. General color above ashy blue. 

 Top of head and nape and sides of head ashy brown, with a greenish tinge, the lower portion 

 (passing through the eye) of a purer brown and darker. Chin, upper part of throat, sides of 

 head, and an obscure spot on the nape dividing the brown, white ; sides of body like the back, 

 but paler ; rest of under parts pale rusty or brownish white. Inner tail feathers like the back, 

 but with a long white spot at the base ; all the feathers tipped with ashy blue ; rest of feathers 

 black ; the first and second with a subterminal oblique bar of white. 



This species is closely related to 8iUapusiUa of the southern States. The brown of the head 

 has, however, an olivaceous green tinge not seen in the other ; the white spot on the nape less 

 distinct. The middle tail feather has its basal half white and the outer web edged with black 

 at the base. This black edging is never seen in the other, and the white patch reduced to a 

 faint trace, only visible in very high plumaged specimens. 



Idst of specimens. 



