Catalogue of the Birds 



and another darker, narrower, and better defined down the side of the 

 throat. Breast and upper belly white, with small triangular black 

 spots; wing coverts have a yellowish tinge. The quills are barred with 

 blown and isnbella. Rump and tail speckled ; the former with black 

 longitudinal streaks, the latter with 3 darker, broad bands, and partially 

 edged with black. Bill straight, round, pointed— legs shielded, of a 

 greeni.sh horn colour. Irides crimson. 



Length nearly 7^ inches; tongue long as in the woodpeckers." 



Family CEKYmM)M.'^ Creepers, 



Sub Family SlTl:mM,'^ Nuthatches, 



Genus SITTA.— L. 



219.—^. caslaneoventris, Franklin, Cat. — Chesnut-hellied Nuthatch, 

 I have hitherto seen this Nuthatch but on one occasion, which 1 shot 



in Goomsoor, in high forest jungle. 1 have, however, seen specimens 



shot at the top of the Guzzlehutty pass, in Mysore. 



Length 5| inches ; wing 3; tail tarsus y7_ths ; bill at front 



^i-ths; at gape -j^Q-ths ; bill black j legs plumbeous brov/n. 



Genus DENDROPHILA, ^\\,— Social Nuthatch, 



220. — 1), frontalis,— Sitta frontalis, Sw., Zool. III.— ^. velata, Temm. 

 P. C— Velvet-fronted blue Nuthatch. 



This lovely little Creeper is found in great abundance in the dense 

 woods of the Neilgherries. I have seen it, thougli rarely, below the 

 ghauts, also in thick forest jungle. It hunts, in general, in small par- 

 ties of five or six ; is very active and restless, creeping round the hori- 

 zontal branches chiefly, and seeming to prefer the under side of the 

 branches, and also running downwards. It feeds on various small 

 insects, which it picks off the baik, but does not tap like the common 

 Nuthatch, 



L-ides light yellow ; bill orange. Length 5 inches ; wing 3 ; tail 1| ; 

 bill to front ; at gape /.ths \ tarsus hardly -/-ths j hind toe with- 

 out claw I an inch. 



