44 



NUTHATCH. 



its imperfect plumage, or a different sort ttiat rarely visits the 

 United States. If the figure (PI. Enl. 623) be correctly colored, it 

 must be the latter, as the tail and head appear of the same bluish 

 grey or lead color as the back. The young birds of this species, 

 it may be observed, have also the crown of a lead color during the 

 first season; but the tail feathers are marked nearly as those of 

 the old ones. Want of precision in the figures and descriptions 

 of these authors make it difficult to determine ; but I think it very 

 probable, that Sitta Jamaicensis minor, Briss., the Least Logger- 

 head of Brown, Sitta Jamaicensis var. t. st. Linn., and Sitta Cana- 

 densis of Linn. Gmel. and Briss. are names that have been origi- 

 nally applied to different individuals of the species we are now 

 describing. 



This bird is particularly fond of the seeds of pine trees. You 

 may traverse many thousand acres of oak, hickory and chesnut 

 woods, during winter, without meeting with a single individual; 

 but no sooner do you enter among the pines than, if the air be 

 still, you have only to listen for a few moments, and their note 

 will direct you where to find them. They usually feed in pairs, 

 climbing about in all directions, generally accompanied by the for- 

 mer species, as well as by the Titmouse, Parus atricapillus, and 

 the crested Titmouse, Pants bicolor, and not unfrequently by the 

 small spotted Woodpecker, Picus pubescens; the whole company 

 proceeding regularly from tree to tree thro the woods like a corps 

 of pioneers ; while in a calm day the rattling of their bills, and the 

 rapid motions of their bodies, thrown like so many tumblers and 

 rope dancers into numberless positions, together with the peculiar 

 chatter of each, are altogether very amusing ; conveying the idea of 

 hungry diligence, bustle and activity. Both these little birds from 

 the great quantity of destructive insects and larvse they destroy, 

 both under the bark and among the tender buds of our fruit and 

 forest trees, are entitled to and truly deserving of our esteem and 

 protection. 



