Summary Obs. on Birds Gulf Coast 

 Florid*. W.B.D.Scoic. 



Sitta carolinensis atkinsi, subsp. nov. 

 Florida White-bellied Nuthatch. 



After carefully considering the representatives of Sitta carolinensis 

 that occur in the region about Tarpon Springs, there appear to 

 be such constant and regular deviations in color, size, and relative 

 proportions of the different parts, from the representatives of the species 

 collected from Massachusetts southward to North Carolina, that I feel 

 warranted in calling attention to so well marked a form as occurs in 

 this portion of Florida, and in suggesting the recognition of a new sub- 

 species to be called Sitta carolinensis atkinsi. This name is given to 

 record in a slight way my great appreciation of the careful work done by 

 my friend Mr. John W. Atkins of Key West, on the birds of that jiortion 

 of Florida. 



Types, 3940 (Coll. W. E. D. S.), $, Tarpon Springs, Florida, April 21, 

 18S7; 3164 (Coll. W, E. D. S.j. 9, Sept. 27, 1S86, Tarpon Springs, 

 Florida. 



General characteristics. — Average of wing, as compared with northern 

 birds, .20 in. smaller in males, .15 in. smaller in females. Bill relatively 

 much longer and slenderer. Light markings of tipping of the coverts 

 and quills of the wings decidedly narrower. A little less white in the 

 tail. In the female birds the blacl^ of the top of the head and nape i% pro- 

 nounced, and it is difficult to distinguish the sexes easily, and in some 

 cases impossible, by the color of these parts. 



Average size of Sitta carolinensis as given by Mr. Robert Ridgway 

 (Manual N. A. Birds): Wing, 3.60; tarsus, .72-.7S; culmen, .84 inch. 

 Wing, culmen and tarsus of four males and five females from vicinity of 

 Tarpon Springs : 



Win^. Culmen. Tarsus. 



3940. 



^ad. Tarpon Spn 



ngs, Fla. April 21, 1887. 



3-28 



•7-^ 



.70 



3163- 



<?ad. 



Sept. 10, i8S6. 



3-10 



•74 



.68 



7579- 



<?ad. 



•' Jan. I, 1S90. 



3-44 



•71 



.69 



7578- 



^ad. 





3-38 



■73 



•71 



3161. 



?ad. 



Sept, 17, 1886. 



3-4° 



,69 



.70 



3165- 



?ad. 



" 27, " 



3-34 



•78 



.70 



3.510. 



?ad. 



Oct. 21, " 



330 



Broken. 



■T- 



3164. 



?ad. " 



Sept. 27, " 



3.21 



.72 



.68 



5000. 



?ad. 



Feb. 13, 1888. 



3.26 



•73 



.69 



Of these five females 3161. 3165, 3164, and 5000 are all deep lustrous 

 black on head and nape without traces of grayish or plumbeous washing, 

 while 3510 has these parts slightly suffused with plumbeous. 



A young male nestling bird taken on April 21, 1887, just after leaving 

 the nest, has the black of head and nape only slightly less lustrous black 

 than in the adult birds. 



The variation in the Florida form is mainh' in the direction of the 

 western subspecies aculeata. but the bill is less attenuated; the gray of 

 the secondaries is purer, and there are other minor differences of colora- 

 tion. 



The birds do not appear to be common about Tarpon Springs, but are 

 residents, and breed early in March. 



Auk,VIl.AprU,l»»0.». (!^-ll<f. 



