40 



WHITE-BREASTED, BLACK-CAPT NUTHATCH, 

 SITTA CAROLIjYENSIS. 

 [Plate n.— Fig. 3.] 



Catesb. I, 22,/^. 2. — Lath. I, 650, B, — Briss. III,/?. 596, 4. — Sitta Carolinensis, Tur- 

 TON. — Sitta Europea^ Grey black-capped Nuthatch, Bartram, p. 289. — Peale's Mu- 

 seum^ No. 2036. 



THE bill of this bird is black, the upper mandible straight, 

 the lower one rounded upwards, towards the point, and white near 

 the base; the nostrils are covered with long curving black hairs ; 

 the tongue is of a horny substance, and ending in several sharp 

 points ; the general color above is of a light blue or lead ; the tail 

 consists of twelve feathers, the two middle ones lead color, the next 

 three are black, tipt with white for one tenth, one fourth, and half 

 of an inch, the two next are also black, tipt half an inch or more 

 with white, which runs nearly an inch up their exterior edges, and 

 both have the white at the tips touched with black; the legs are of 

 a purple or dirty flesh color; the hind claw is much the largest; 

 the inside of the wing at the bend is black; below this is a white 

 spot spreading over the roots of the first five primaries ; the whole 

 length is five inches and a half, extent eleven. 



Mr. Pennant considers this bird as a mere variety of the 

 European Nuthatch ; but if difference in size, color and habits be 

 sufficient characteristics of a distinct species, this bird is certainly 

 entitled to be considered as such. The head and back of the Eu- 

 ropean species is of an uniform bluish grey; the upper parts of the 

 head, neck, and shoulders of ours are a deep black, glossed with 

 green; the breast and belly of the former is a dull orange, with 

 streaks of chesnut, those parts in the latter are pure white. The 

 European has a line of black passing thro the eye, half way down 

 the neck; the present species has nothing of the kind; but appears 



