190 Contributions from the Charleston Museum. 



In Audubon's Birds of America, 1 he says: 



The only parts of the United States in which I have not met with this species 

 during winter are the eastern and northern portions of the Floridas. 



The writer met with this species in positive abundance on the 

 Suwanee River from March 10 to 20, 1892, and also on the Wacissa 

 and Aucilla Rivers, in February and March, 1894, 2 thus making 

 the first records for Florida. 



This species breeds as far south as the mountains of North 

 Carolina (above 4,000 feet), this record being established by 

 Mr. William Brewster. 3 



FAMILY SITTIDjE: NUTHATCHES. 



294. Sitta carolinensis atkinsi Scott. Florida White- 

 breasted Nuthatch. 



Although Mr. Ridgway 4 gives the range of this form as "Florida 

 and westward along Gulf coast to Mississippi," I must confess 

 that I do not agree with him so far as this state is concerned, for 

 the birds that are resident on the coast are certainly much nearer 

 atkinsi than typical carolinensis of the interior of the State . While 

 a great many of the females I have taken have the pileum gray or 

 bluish gray they are undoubtedly immature, since the skull 

 plainly shows that ossification was not fully developed. A female, 

 taken near Charleston by the writer on January 22, 1903, has the 

 entire pileum, as well as the nape, glossy black. This is an adult 

 bird for the skull was fully ossified, and nearly all of the adult 

 females that I have taken had the whole top of the head, as well 

 as the nape, deep black. Typical carolinensis certainly does not 

 occur along the coast, at least in the vicinity of Charleston and to 

 the southward. 



This nuthatch is by no means common and a forest of from one 

 hundred to three hundred acres seldom contains more than three 

 or four pairs. The birds frequent wooded land, showing a pref- 

 erence for mixed pine woods; but I have also found them in the 

 largest swamps, where they are generally in pairs, never con- 

 gregating in small flocks like the Brown-headed Nuthatch. 



These birds mate in February, generally about the middle of the 

 month, and at this season they are most affectionate. If the male 

 has procured a tempting morsel and the female is far away in 



i II, 109. 'Auk, X, 1893, 337, and XII, 1895, 365. 



» Ibid, III, 1886, 176. < Birds of North and Middle America, III, 444. 



