58 
BROWN-HEADED NUTHATCH. 
there; the chin, and sides of the neck, under the eyes, are 
white; the wings dusky; the coverts and three secondaries next 
the body a slate or lead colour; which is also the colour of the 
rest of the upper parts; the tail is nearly even at the end, the 
two middle feathers slate colour, the others black, tipped with 
slate, and crossed diagonally with a streak of white; legs and 
feet dull blue; upper mandible black, lower blue at the base; iris 
hazel. The female differs in having the brown on the head 
rather darker, and the line through the eye less conspicuous. 
This diminutive bird is little noticed in history, and what 
little has been said of it, by Europeans, is not much to its credit. 
It is characterized as “ a very stupid bird,” which may easily 
be knocked down, from the sides of the tree, with one’s cane. 
I confess I found it a very dexterous climber; and so rapid and 
restless in its motions, as to be shot with difficulty. Almost all 
very small birds seem less suspicious of man than large ones; 
but tliat activity and restless diligence should constitute 
ty, is rather a new doctrine. Upon the whole, I am of opinion, 
that a person who should undertake the destruction of these 
birds, at even a dollar a head for all he knocked down with his 
cane, would run a fair chance of starving by his profession. 
