SITTING. 
8. S. castaneoventris Frankl. Proc. Z. S. 1831. p. 121., Jard. & 
Selby, III. Orn. pi. 145. — S. castanea Less. 
y. S. cinnameoventris Blyth, J. A. S. Beng. 1842. p. 459- — 
Sitta castaneoventris Hodgs. 
10. S. himalayensis Jard. & Selby, 111. Orn. pi. 146. 
11. S. nipalensis Ilodgs. J. A. S. B. 1836. p. 779- — Sitta vit- 
ticauda Jam. Mem. Wern. Nat. Hist. Soc. vii. 490. ? 
0 f 
12. S. frontalis Ilorsf. — Sitta velata Temm. PI. col. _ 
Swains. 111. Orn. pi. 2 . ; S. corallina Hodgs. ; Type of Ort 0 
chus Horsf 
13. S. flavipes (Swains.) Two Cent, and a Quait. P- 
Sitta azurea Less. ? S. gymnoplirys Kulil, MS. 
13. S . formosa Blyth, J. A. S. B. 1843. p.938. 
SlTTEI.LA Swains .* 
subtly 
Bill long, rather slender, with both mandibles slightly curved upwards from the base, the tip 
curved and emarginated, the sides compressed, and the gonys lengthened and curved upward j 
nostrils basal and lateral, and placed in a membranous groove, with the opening linear and ne ^ r ^ 
lateral margin. Wings reaching beyond the tail, with the first quill nearly as long as the secon . 
third, which are the longest. Tail very short, and somewhat rounded. Tarsi shorter than the 1X1 
toe, and covered in front by an almost entire scale. Toes moderate, with the lateral toes uneqtu > 
outer the longest, and both united at their base to the first joint of the middle toe, the hm 
long as, or longer than, the middle one ; the claws long, compressed, and curved. 
• „ run®' 11 ® 
The species of this genus are peculiar to Australia. They live, says Mr. Gould, in small companic^ ^ eVeJ -y 
over tlie branches, and up and down the trunks of the trees, with the greatest activity, and assuini °^ flC j,e9 
possible variety of position; when proceeding downwards the head points to the ground. They search t j gte ncfr 
and trunks of the trees for the insects and spiders that may lodge on them, and these form their chief s ,j lC r; 
'he 
hi'» n ° 
Their flight is quick and sudden, but is seldom brought into action further than to pass from one tree t0 pest 
while so engaged they utter a weak piping note, which they also do while running up and down the trim'-- ^peb 
of one of the species is said to be made “ of short strips of bark attached together and fastened t 0ll) 
liig llCi 
ot one ot the species is said to oe maae oi snoit snips m u.iuv | 
with cobwebs, and so covered over with them as to be very nearly smooth ; the cobwebs are laid oi e ^ ^ 
wound round the pieces ; portions of lichen are frequently attached. The nest is generally placed in ^ egce p C e ot 
branches, and is most difficult to detect, from its very diminutive size and from its resembling a slight e^c 
the wood; the eggs are three in number.” 
1. S. chrysoptera (Lath.) Swains. Lath. Gen. Syn. of B. pi.. 
Lamb. Icon. ined. iii. 6., Gould, Syn. B. of Austr. pi. f. 2. (head). 
2. S. pileata Gould, Proc. Z. S. 1837- p. 151 Sitta melanoce- 
phala Gould, Syn. B. of Austr. pi. f. 3. & 4. (heads), B. of 
Austr. pi. 
Syn--° f 
3. S. leucocephala Gould, Proc. Z S. 1837- P - ^ 
Austr. pi. f. 1. (head). GoU Jd, I5, ° 
4. S. leucoptera Gould, Proc. Z. S. 1839- P- l 
Austr. pi. 
Acanthisitta Lafr.\ 
tif? tllC 
Bill long, straight, and very slender, with the culmen straight and slightly curved at t ^ gpd 
sides compressed and the gonys long and gradually advancing upwards ; the nostrils basal, 
placed in a deep broad groove, with the opening linear and near the culmen. Wings m° c 
Mr. Swainson established this genus in 18.37. (Class* of Birds } ii. p. 317.) 
t This genus was established by Baron Lafresnaye in 1843. (Mag* de Zool * 1843.) 
4 a 
