105 



BROWN^HEADED NUTHATCH. 

 SITTA PUSILLA, 

 [Plate XV.— Fig. 2.] 



Small Nuthatch, Catesby, Car. I, 22, upper figure. — Le Petite Sittelle a tetehfune. Buff. 

 V, 474.— Pe ale's No. 2040.— Briss. Ill, 958.— Lath. I, 651, C. 



THIS bird is chiefly an inhabitant of Virginia and the southern 

 states, and seems particularly fond of pine trees. I have never yet 

 discovered it either in Pennsylvania or any of the regions north of 

 this. Its manners are very similar to those of the Red-bellied Nut- 

 hatch, represented in Plate II of this work; but its notes are more 

 shrill and chirping. In the countries it inhabits it is a constant 

 resident; and in winter associates with parties, of eight or ten, of 

 its own species, who hunt busily from tree to tree, keeping up a 

 perpetual screeping. It is a frequent companion of the Woodpecker 

 figured beside it; and you rarely find the one in the woods without 

 observing or hearing the other not far off. It climbs equally in 

 every direction, on the smaller branches as well as on the body 

 of the tree, in search of its favorite food, small insects and their 

 larvae. It also feeds on the seeds of the pine tree. I have never 

 met with its nest. 



This species is four inches and a quarter long, and eight broad ; 

 the whole upper part of the head and neck, from the bill to the 

 back, and as far down as the eyes^ is light brown, or pale ferrugi- 

 nous, shaded with darker touches, with the exception of a spot of 

 white near the back; from the nostril thro the eyes the brown is 

 deepest, making a very observable line there; the chin, and sides 

 of the neck under the eyes, are white ; the wings dusky ; the coverts 

 and three secondaries next the body a slate or lead color ; which 



VOL. II. D d 



