196 BROWN-HEADED NUTHATCH. 



not far off. It climbs equally in every direction, on the smaller 

 branches, as well as on the body of the tree, in search of its favorite 

 food, small insects and their larvse. It also feeds on the seeds of the 

 pine-tree. I have never met with its nest. 



This species is four inches and a quarter long, and eight broad ; the 

 whole upper part of the head and neck, from the bill to the back, and 

 as far down as the eyes, is light brown, or pale ferruginous, shaded with 

 darker touches, with the exception of a spot of white near the back ; 

 from the nostril through the eyes the brown is deepest, making a very 

 observable line there ; the chin, and sides of the neck, under the eyes, 

 are white ; the wings dusky ; the coverts and three secondaries next 

 the body a slate or lead color ; which is also the color of the rest of the 

 upper parts ;, the tail is nearly even at the end, the two middle feathers 

 slate color, the others black, tipped with slate, and crossed diagonally 

 with a streak of white ; legs and feet dull bltie ; upper mandible black, 

 lower blue at the base ; iris hazel. The female differs in having the 

 brown on the head rather darker, and the line through the eye less 

 conspicuous. 



This diminutive bird is little noticed in history, and what little has 

 been said of it, by Europeans, is not much to its credit. It is charac- 

 terized as " a very stupid bird," which may easily be knocked down, 

 from the sides of the tree, with one's cane. I confess I found it a very 

 dexterous climber ; and so rapid and restless in its motions, as to be shot 

 with difficulty. Almost all very small birds seem less suspicious of man 

 than large ones ; but that activity and restless diligence should consti- 

 tute stupidity, is rather a new doctrine. Upon the whole, I am of 

 opinion, that a person who should undertake the destruction of these 

 birds, at even a dollar a head for all he knocked down with his cane, 

 would run a fair chance of starving by his profession. 



