56 
RED-BEIXIED NUTHATCH. 
Buffon’s Torchepot du Canada, Canada Nuthatch of other 
European writers, is either a young bird of the present species, 
in its imperfect plumage, or a different sort that rarely visits the 
United States. If the figure (PI. Enl. 623) be correctly coloured, 
it must be the latter, as the tail and head appear of the same 
bluish gray or lead colour as the back. The young birds of this 
species, it may be observed, have also the crown of a lead 
colour during the first season; but the tail feathers are marked 
nearly as those of the old ones. Want of precision in the figures 
and descriptions of these authors, makes it difficult to determine; 
but I think it very probable, that Sitta Jamaicensis minor, 
Briss.; the Least Loggerhead of Brown, Sitta Jamaicensis, 
Linn.; and Sitta Canadensis of Linn. Gmel. and Briss., are 
names that have been originally applied to different individuals 
of the species we are now describing. 
This bird is particularly fond of the seeds of pine trees. You 
may traverse many thousand acres of oak, hickory and chestnut 
woods, during winter, without meeting with a single individual; 
but no sooner do you enter among the pines than, if the air be 
still, you have only to listen for a few moments, and their note 
will direct you where to find them. They usually feed in pairs, 
climbing about in all directions, generally accompanied by the 
former species, as well as by the Black-capt Titmouse, Parus 
atricapillus, and the Crested Titmouse, Parus hicolor, and 
not unfrequently by the small Spotted Woodpecker, Picus 
pubescens; the whole company proceeding regularly from tree 
to tree through the woods, like a corps of pioneers; while in a 
calm day the rattling of their bills, and the rapid motions of 
their bodies, thrown like so many tumblers and rope-dancers 
into numberless positions, together with the peculiar chatter of 
each, are altogether very amusing; conveying the idea of hungry 
diligence, bustle and activity. Both these little birds, from the 
great quantity of destructive insects and larvae they destroy, 
both under the bark, and among the tender buds of our fruit 
and forest trees, are entitled to, and truly deserving of, our es- 
teem and protection. 
