480 



NESTS AND EOGS OF 



-^v 





* * European Nuthatch, Sitta cteia; in cut resembling our Brown-headed Nutjatch. (From Brehm.) 



this species in the cavity of a stump in a pond. It was two feet from the surface of 

 the water. Mr. C. S. Brimley found eggs of this species near Raleigh, North Carolina, 

 in the month of April. Mr. Wayne says that the birds dig several holes before a 

 satisfactory one is completed for the nest. The cavity extends downward from eight 

 to twelve inches, and is filled with short pieces of grass, bits of cotton, wool, feathers, 

 and the leaf-like substance of "pine seed leaves." The eggs are five or six in num- 

 ber. The ground-color varies from white through creamy-white, to a dull white, and 

 the markings are several shades of reddish-brown and lavender-gray. The average 

 size is .62X.49. 



730. PYGMY NUTHATCH. Sitta pygmwa Vig. Geog. Dist.— Western United 

 States east to and including the Rocky Mountains; from the northern boundary 

 Bouth into mountainous districts of Mexico. 



This diminutive Nuthatch is found throughout Western United States from the 

 Rocky Mountains to the Pacific. It is abundant, chiefly in pine woods in mountain- 

 ous districts, nesting like the rest of the genus in holes of trees. Mr. Charles F. 

 Morrison gives it as a common species of La Plata county, Colorado, and is resident 

 up to 10,000 feet; breeds abundantly, but the nest is hard to find. The eggs are from 

 six to nine in number. They are crystalline white, speckled more or less thickly 

 with brick-red, varying in Intensity in different specimens. The average size of 

 eighteen specimens Is .54x.44 Inches. 



