WHITE-BREASTED NUTHATCH. 125 
of a triple wall of three distin@ styles of structure. The outside one is made of thorny 
twigs, and a few flower-stems, openly but securely intertwined among the twigs of the 
living branch; the middle one is a firm plaiting half an inch thick, made of flowers, 
flower-stems and mosses; the inner one is of a lining of feathers, matted together, 
sufficiently secured to the middle wall so as to line the hollow ball throughout... The 
shape of the nests varies from perfectly round to retort-shape, the neck of the nest 
being at one side and below. The size varies from four to eight or ten inches in outside 
diameter; the inside diameter is about three inches, and the opening of the neck about 
one inch. 
“The eggs are rich pea-green of various shades, covered with irregular small spots 
and splashes of brown, sparsely at the small end, but at the other sometimes covering 
the entire end, though generally massed into a confluent ring. The shape is round at 
one end and tending to a point at the other.” 
NAMES: Verpin, Yellow-headed Verdin.—Goldmeise (German). 
SCIENTIFIC NAMES: Aegithalus flaviceps Sund. (1850).—Psaltria flaviceps Sclat. (1856).— Paroides flavi- 
ceps Brd. (1858).—Psaltriparus flaviceps Sclat. (1861).—AURIPARUS FLAVICEPS Brp. (1864).— 
Canirostrum ornatum Lawr. (1852). 
DESCRIPTION: Adult, “upper parts, ashy; under parts, dull whitish; wings and tail, fuscous, with hoary 
edgings. Whole head yellow. Lesser wing-coverts, rich chestnut-red. Bill, blackish-plumbeous; feet, 
plumbeous. 
“Length, 4 inches or rather more; wing, 2 or rather less; tail, 1.75 to 2.25.” (Coues.) 
W HITE-BREASTED NUTHATCH. 
ss Sitta carolinensis LATH. 
PLATE XXI. Fic. 5. 
ASHE WHITE-BREASTED NUTHATCH is one of the gayest birds of the woodlands. 
¢q Wherever it occurs it is, as a rule, stationary, being migratory only in its most 
northern range, where it moves but short distances during the spring and fall. In 
Wisconsin where there are extensive coniferous, foliage, or mixed forests, it is a common 
breeding-bird. In northern Illinois, it is not so frequently met with in summer, but is 
very numerous in winter, when it seeks the company of small Woodpeckers or more 
generally that of the Black-capped Titmouse. Nuthatches seem to have special fondness 
for mixed woods, where they may be found all the year around. Frequently they leave 
their homes in winter, visiting the surrounding districts, especially the orchards in 
which with greatest care they search every tree for insets. I have found them also 
very common in woodlands with low shrubbery and hazel-copses, especially where 
many old, decaying stumps and trees, full of natural cavities and Woodpeckers’ holes, 
were to be found. When resting, the Nuthatch assumes a rather compressed and clumsy 
attitude, but its appearance changes materially, when it gracefully and nimbly moves 
up and down the tree-trunks. It merrily flits from tree to tree, often repeating its 
