SITTIN-®. SITTA. 
167 
narrow, the sides sloping, the edges sharp without notches, 
the tip rather blunt ; lower mandible with the angle of mo- 
derate length and narrow, the dorsal line ascending and 
very slightly convex, the sides slightly convex, the tip nar- 
row. Nostrils basal, round operculate, partially concealed 
by the reversed bristly feathers. Head ovate ; neck short ; 
body short. Tarsi rather short, stout, compressed, with 
eight scutella ; toes long, much compressed ; first very long, 
second much shorter than fourth ; anterior toes adherent at 
the base. Claws long, arched, much compressed, laterally 
grooved, acute. Plumage very soft and blended. Small 
bristles at the base of the upper mandible. Wings rather 
long, first quill extremely small, third and fourth longest. 
Tail short, of twelve feathers broad, nearly even. Upper 
mandible slightly concave with three ridges ; tongue slender, 
very thin, with the point abrupt and terminated by strong 
bristles ; oesophagus without dilatation ; stomach rather 
large, roundish, moderately muscular ; intestine rather short 
and wide ; coeca very small. 
247. 1. Sitta Carolinensis, Linn. White-breasted Nut- 
hatch. 
Plate CLII. Male and Female. 
Upper part of head and hind neck deep black ; back light grey- 
ish-blue ; quills black, edged with light greyish-blue ; middle tail- 
feathers of the same colour, the rest black, with a broad band of white 
near the end ; sides of the head and lower parts white ; lower tail- 
coverts wdth the inner webs brownish -red. Young without black on 
the head. 
Male, 6^, 11. 
Common from Texas to Maine. Throughout the interior to the Co- 
lumbia, Resident. 
White-breasted American Nuthatch, Sitta carolinensis, Wils. Amer. Orn. v. i. p. 10. 
Sitta carolinensis, Bonap. Syn. p. 96. 
White-breasted American Nuthatch, Nutt. Man. v. i. p. 581. 
White-breasted Nuthatch, Sitta carolinensis, Aud. Orn. Biog. v. ii. p. 299 5 v. v. 
p. 473. 
248. 2. Sitta Canadensis, Linn. Red-bellied Nuthatch. 
Plate CV. Male and Female, 
