THE WHITE-BREASTED NUTHATCH. 177 



They alight on small branches or twigs, and now and then betake themselves 

 to the ground to search for food. 



Their bill is strong and sharp, and they not unfrequently break acorns, 

 chestnuts, &c, by placing them in the crevices of the bark of trees, or 

 between the splinters of a fence-rail, where they are seen hammering at them 

 for a considerable time. The same spot is usually resorted to by the 

 Nuthatch as soon as it has proved to be a good and convenient one. A 

 great object seems to be to procure the larvae entombed in the kernels of the 

 hard fruits, insects being at all times the favourite food of these birds. They 

 are fond of roosting in their own nest, to which I believe many return year 

 after year, simply cleaning or deepening it for the purpose of depositing 

 their eggs in greater security. Like others of the tribe, they hang head- 

 downwards to sleep, especially in a state of captivity. 



The young obtain their full plumage during winter. The only differences 

 between the male and the female are, a slight inferiority of the latter as to 

 size, and a somewhat less depth of colouring. Like the other species, they 

 now and then alight on a top branch for an instant, in the manner used by 

 other birds. 



This lively roamer of our forests extends its rambles from the Texas, 

 where I found it abundant, to the shores of the Columbia river, from which 

 country specimens were brought by Mr. Townsend. It is not mentioned 

 as having been found in the Fur Countries. 



White-ereasted American Nuthatch, Sitta carolinensis, Wils. Amer. Orn., vol. i. 



p. 10. 

 Sitta Carolinensis, Bonap. Syn., p. 96. 



White-breasted American Nuthatch, Nutt. Man., vol. i. p. 581. 

 White-breasted Nuthatch, Sitta carolinensis, Aud. Orn. Biog., vol. ii.-p. 299; vol. v. 



p. 473. 



Adult Male. 



Bill straight, of the length of the head, very hard, conico-subulate, a little 

 compressed, acute; upper mandible with the dorsal outline very slightly 

 arched, the edges sharp towards the point; lower mandible smaller, of equal 

 length, straight. Nostrils basal, round, half-closed by a membrane, partially 

 covered by the frontal feathers. The general form is short and compact. 

 Feet rather strong, the hind toe stout, and as long as the middle toe, with a 

 strong hooked claw; the claws arched, compressed, acute. 



Plumage soft, blended, with little gloss, excepting on the head. Wings 

 rather short, broad, the second primary longest. Tail short, broad, even, of 

 twelve rounded feathers. 



Bill black, pale blue at the base of the lower mandible. Iris dark brown. 



Vol. IV. 25 



