NUTHATCH. ANISODACTYLI. SITTA. 113 
Genus XIV. NUTHATCH. SITTA, Linn. 
GENERIC CHARACTERS. 
Bill straight, cylindrical, slightly compressed, subulated, 
upper mandible rather longer than the lower one, the tip acu_ 
minated. ‘Tongue short, horny, and armed at the point. 
Nostrils basal, and rounded, partly hidden by reflected 
bristles. Feet with three toes before, and one behind, the 
outer toe being joined at its base to the middle one; hind toe 
of the same length as, or longer than, the middle toe, with a 
long and hooked claw. ‘Tail consisting of twelve feathers. 
Wings rather short; the first quill very short, the third and 
fourth being the longest. 
The several species of this genus are climbers, and differ 
from the Woodpeckers, in being able to ascend or to descend 
the trunks of trees with equal readiness. 
‘They feed upon insects, in every state, and also on nuts 
and seeds. ‘They breed in the natural cavities of trees. 
_ The sexes are similar in plumage, and they are subject to 
only one moult in the year. Europe possesses but one spe- 
cles. : 
Nuthatch.—Sitta Europea, Linn. 
PLATE 89. Fig. 1. 
Sitta Europxa, Linn. Syst. 1. p. 177.—Fauna Suec. No. 104.—Gmel. Syst. 
1, p. 440.—Lath. Ind. Ornith. v.1. p. 261.—Raii, Syn. p. 47. A. 4. Will. 
p. 98. t. 23. 
Sitta czesia, Meyer, Tasschenb. Deut. v. 1. p. 128. 
ne Sitelle, ou Torchepot, Buff: Ois. v. 5. p. 460. t. 20.—Id. Pl. Enl. 623. 
aul 
Sitelle Torchepot, Temm. Man. d’Ornith. v. 1. p. 407. 
- Kleiber, Bechst. Naturg. Deut. v. 2. p. 1061.—Frisch, Vég. t. 39. 
Nuthatch, Br. Zool. 1. No. 89. t. 38.— Will. (Ang.) p. 142.—Lewin’s Br. 
Birds, 2. t. 53.—Albin. 2. t. 28.—Lath. Syn. 2. p. 648.—Id. Supp. p. 117. 
—Mont. Ornith. Dict.—Bewick’s Br. Birds, v. 1. p. 121..—Pult. Cat. 
Dorset. p. 5.—Don. Br. Birds, 4. t. 81. 
This is the only European, as well as British species. In 
England, it is confined to certain districts; and, according to Locality. 
H 
