106 



BROWN-HEADED NUTHATCH. 



is also the color of the rest of the upper parts; the tail is nearly 

 even at the end, the two middle feathers slate color, the others 

 black, tipped with slate, and crossed diagonally with a streak of 

 white; legs and feet dull blue; upper mandible black, lower blue 

 at the base ; iris hazel. The female differs in having the brown on 

 the head rather darker, and the line thro the eye less conspicuous. 



This diminutive bird is little noticed in history, and what little 

 has been said of it by Europeans is not much to its credit. It i$ 

 characterized as " a very stupid bird," which may easily be knock- 

 ed down, from the sides of the tree, with one's cane. I confess I 

 found it a very dexterous climber ; and so rapid and restless in its 

 motions as to be shot with difficulty. Almost all very small birds 

 seem less suspicious of man than large ones ; but that activity and 

 restless diligence should constitute stupidity, is rather a new doc- 

 trine. Upon the whole, I am of opinion, that a person who should 

 undertake the destruction of these birds, at even a dollar a head 

 for all he knocked down with his cane, would run a fair chance of 

 starving by his profession. 



