GENUS XXV. Srri'A. NUTHATCH. 
SPECIES 1. S. CAROLINENSIS. 
WHITE-BREASTED NUTHATCH. 
[Plate H. — Fig. 3.] 
Sitta Carolinensis, Briss. hi, p. 596. — Catesb. i, 22, jig. 2. — 
Lath, i, 650, B. — Sitta Europea, Gray black-capped JSuthatch, 
Bartuam, p. 289. — Peale’s Museum, JSTo. 2036. 
The bill of this bird is black, the upper mandible straight, 
the lower one rounded upwards, towards the point, and white 
near the base; the nostrils are covered with long curving black 
hairs; the tongue is of a horny substance, and ending in several 
sharp points ; the general colour above is of a light blue or lead; 
the tail consists of twelve feathers, the two middle ones lead 
colour, the next three are black, tipt with white for one-tenth, 
one-fourth, and half of an inch; the two next are also black, tipt 
half an inch or more with white, which runs nearly an inch up 
their exterior edges, and both have the white at the tips touched 
with black; the legs are of a purple or dirty flesh colour; the 
hind claw is much the largest; the inside of the wing at the 
bend is black; below this is a white spot spreading over the 
roots of the first five primaries; the whole length is five inches 
and a half, extent eleven. 
Mr. Pennant considers this bird as a mere variety of the Eu- 
ropean Nuthatch; but if difference in size, colour and habits, be 
sufficient characteristics of a distinct species, this bird is certain- 
ly entitled to be considered as such. The head and back of the 
European species is of a uniform bluish gray; the upper parts 
of the head, neck, and shoulders of ours are a deep black, glossed 
with green; the breast and belly of the former is a dull orange, 
