Birds. 83 



the side of a spruce tree, about six feet from the ground, but 

 which still remained attached to the tree by the upper end. 

 Mr. Carpenter describes the nest as "made of soft, downy 

 materials, including feathers and such soft materials as you 

 will find in a squirrel's nest. The whole bulk not larger than 

 your fist." It contained three young birds with down only in 

 tufts upon them, and two addled eggs, white, thinly marked 

 with fine reddish dots or spots, and measuring respectively 

 .60 X .47 and .59 X .47 inches. More recently we have taken 

 three more, all near Holland Patent, and each placed under a 

 loose piece of bark beside the trunk of a dead tree. The first 

 was taken June 15, 1888, and contained four young birds ready 

 to fly and two addled eggs. The second was taken June 21, 

 1888, and contained five nearly fresh eggs. The second was 

 taken June 21, 1888, and contained five nearly fresh eggs. The 

 third, taken June 30, 1888, contained six fresh eggs. 



244. Sitta carolinensis carolinensis. 



WHITE-BREASTED NUTHATCH. 



A common resident. Breeds. 



245. Sitta canadensis. 



RED-BREASTED NUTHATCH. 



A common migrant. A common summer resident in the 

 northern part of the county. Breeds. Of several nests taken, 

 one of May 14th, 1886, at Trenton Falls, contained five eggs, 

 nearly hatched. The hole was four inches deep and fifty feet 

 from the ground, in the dead top of an ash, in a swamp. There 

 were quantities of gum about the hole and running down the 

 tree The nest was composed of strips of bark, a little moss 

 and a few feathers. The eggs closely resembled those of the 

 white breasted, except in size, averaging .62 x .47 mches. 



