Nests in Holes in Trees, Stumps, or Logs 
Adult 9 —The black of head replaced by gray. Length—q.62. 
Breeding Range—‘‘ May be roughly defined as embracing the entire 
spruce-forested regions of northern New England, including 
portions of Berkshire and Worcester counties, Massachusetts ”’ 
(Brewster). 
The nest, of fine grass, is in a cavity, usually in a decayed tree, 
from four to fifteen feet from the ground. 4 to 6 eggs are laid; 
they are creamy white, with numerous reddish brown and laven- 
der spots. Size—.60 x .48. 
In writing of this small nuthatch, Davie mentions a curious 
fact connected with its nests: ‘‘ The bark at their entrance is coated 
with fir-balsam or pitch, from an inch to three or four inches 
around the hole. In one instance the pitch extended down for 
twenty-one inches, and was stuck full of the red breast feathers 
of the nuthatches.”” The breeding season begins in June, occa-~ 
sionally two broods being reared. 
729. Brown-headed Nuthatch: Sitta pusilla (Lath.) 
Adult—Upper parts gray ; top and back of head grayish brown, 
with a spot of white over the nape; under parts light gray 
or whitish. Length—4.50. 
Breeding Range—From Virginia southward. 
Nest placed usually in a hole, made by the birds themselves, 
in a stump or tree, within a few inches of, or as much as sixty 
feet from, the ground. 
It is composed of ‘‘ short pieces of grass, bits of cotton wool, 
feathers, and the leaf-like substance of ‘ pine seed leaves ’” (Davie). 
The eggs, 4 to 6 in number, are more or less heavily spotted 
and blotched with reddish brown and pale lilac. Size—.56 x.46. 
The Brown-Headed is the smallest of the Eastern nuthatches, 
and is readily identified by the white spot on its neck. Breeding 
season in March. 
731. Tufted Titmouse: Parus bicolor Linn. 
Adult—Upper parts gray ; forehead black; crest gray; under 
parts light gray, to white on the belly ; the sides washed 
with reddish brown. Length—6.oo. 
Breeding Range—From northern New Jersey southward. 
110 
