196 
BROWN-HEADED NUTHATCH. 
not far off. It climbs equally in every direction, on the smaller 
branches, as Avell as on the body of the tree, in search of its favorite 
food, small insects and their larvje. 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 ferruginous, shaded with 
darker touches, with the exception of a spot of white near the back ; 
from the nostril through 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 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 through 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 is charac- 
terized as " a very stupid bird," Avhich may easily be knocked 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 diiSculty. Almost all very small birds seem less suspicious of man 
than large ones ; but that activity and restless diligence should consti- 
tute stupid'dij, is rather a new doctrine. 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. 
