Indian Birds 
It has a white eyebrow, and the patch of 
feathers under the tail is pale yellow. 
It occurs only in Southern India and is ex- 
ceedingly common in the vicinity of Madras. 
It frequents gardens and utters a variety of 
very cheery little notes, and has, therefore, been 
called “ the blithest little bird in existence.” 
It does not show itself very much in the open, 
being heard much more frequently than seen. 
It builds a cup-shaped nest in a bush or low 
tree. 
The Nuthatches, 23 and 24 
Nuthatches are little climbing birds char- 
acterised by very short tails. They go about 
in small flocks and run up and down the trunks 
and branches of trees with great address, 
picking up small insects. ‘They also, as their 
name implies, feed upon nuts. They nest in 
holes of trees, frequently closing up a portion 
of the aperture with mud. (Illus. F. I., p. 298.) 
23. Sitta castaneiventris: ‘The Chestnut- 
bellied Nuthatch. (F. 321), (J. 250), (-I.) 
Upper plumage dark greyish blue. A broad 
black band runs from the beak, through the 
eye and down the side of the head. The other 
parts of the cheek are white. The lower 
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