200 
SITTA CAROLINENSIS. 
point, and white near the base ; the nostrils are coveM 
with long- curving black hairs; the tongue is 0^^ , 
horny substance, and ending in several sharp poiol*' 
the general colour above is of a liglit blue or lead ; * . 
tail consists of twelve feathers, the two middle olj! 
lead colour, the next three are black, tipt with 'vh’j* 
for one-tenth, one-fourth, and half of an inch ; the 
next are also bhick, tipt half an inch or more 
white, which runs nearly an inch up their exter'f 
edges, and both have the white at the tips touched 
black ; the legs are of a purple or dirty flesh colo''/^' 
the hind claw is much the largest ; the inside of 
wing at the bend is black ; below this is a white 
spreading over the roots of the first five primaries ; 
whole length is five inches and a half; extent, elev#"’,- 
Mr Pennant considers this bird as a mere variety 
the Europ(!an nuthatch ; but if dificreiice in size, col®'’^; 
and habits, he sufficient characteristics of a distiiiV 
species, this bird is certainly entitled to be considef^^ 
as such. The head and back of the European 
IS ot an uniform bluish gray ; the upper parts of 
head, neck, and shoulders, of ours, are a deep bh*''* 
glossed with green ; the breast and belly of the forii'*^ 
is a dull orange, with streaks of chestnut; those p**^ 
in tlie latter are pure white. The European has a 
of black passing through the eve, half way doirn 
neck ; the |)resent species has nothing of the kind, bi‘‘ 
appears with tile inner webs of the three shorK'‘ 
secondaries and the primaries of a jet black ; the la^^'’'^ 
white, and the vent and lower parts of 
thighs ot a rust colour ; the European, therefore, and tb*’ 
pi'Ment, .are evidently two distinct and different speci®^ 
This bird builds its nest early in April, in the boo 
of a tree, in a hollow rail in the fence, and sometii" , 
in the wooden coriiishing under the eaves ; and lof”' 
live eggs of a dull white, spotted with brown at tb* 
greater end. The male is extremely attentive to 
female ivliile sitting; supplying her regularly 
sustenance, stopping frequently at the mouth of 
hole, calling and offering her what he has brought, 
