66 NUTHATCH. 



A. — Mi*. Abbot informs me, that a similar one is frequent in 

 Georgia, four inches and a quarter long, and eight and a quartet- 

 broad ; but from his drawing and description it varies a little ; the 

 whole top of the head, and neck behind quite to the back, glossy 

 black ; the two middle tail feathers are grey like the back, with 

 dusky ends ; the others black, with a white oblique band, crossing 

 the whole when spread ; in the middle of the outer feather taking up 

 one-third, and passing nearer the end as each is more inwards ; so 

 that the one nearest the two middle is only obliquely white at the tip. 



It makes the nest in hollow trees, sometimes under the eaves of 

 houses, and lays six or seven eggs of a bluish white, with numerous 

 ferruginous spots, which increase in size, and are more thick at the 

 large end ; said to be among pines in the winter, now and then met 

 with near Savannah, but very rare. 



3— SHOULDER-KNOT NUTHATCH. 



Carolina Nuthatch, Gen. Syn. Sup. ii. 145. 



LENGTH five inches, breadth seven inches and a half, weight 

 two drachms. Bill triangular, short, and black ; head, throat, and 

 breast glossy black; back brownish black, with faint orange streaks; 

 belly mottled with black, orange, and white ; vent white ; near the 

 junction of the wings some long feathers of a bright orange, not 

 unlike a shoulder-knot, passing down on the sides, and ending on 

 the thighs, where they become pale ; lesser wing coverts black, the 

 greater brown, tinged with red ; quills brown, mostly edged with 

 pale red, the two middle tail feathers the same; the two next on each 

 side marked with an oval orange spot on the outer web ; the other 

 six orange, tipped with brown ; legs black ; the hind toe remarkably 

 long. 



