38 
WHITE-BREASTED, BLACK-CAPPED NUTHATCH. 
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 
European nuthatch ; but if difference in size, colour, and 
habits, be sufficient characteristics of a distinct species, this 
bird is certainly 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, with streaks of chestnut; those parts 
in the latter are pure white. The European has a line of 
black passing through the eye, half way down the neck ; the 
present species has nothing of the kind, but appears with the 
inner webs of the three shortest secondaries and the primaries 
of a jet black; the latter tipt with white, and the vent and 
lower parts of the thighs of a rust colour : the European, 
therefore, and the present, are evidently two distinct and 
different species.* 
This bird builds its nest early in April, in the hole of a tree, 
in a hollow rail in the fence, and sometimes in the wooden 
cornice under the eaves ; and lays five eggs of a dull white, 
spotted with brown at the greater end. The male is extremely 
attentive to the female while sitting ; supplying her regularly 
with sustenance, stopping frequently at the mouth of the hole, 
calling and offering her what he has brought, in the most 
endearing manner. Sometimes he seems to stop merely to 
inquire how she is, and to lighten the tedious moments with 
his soothing chatter. He seldom rambles far from the spot; 
and when danger appears, regardless of his own safety, he flies 
instantly to alarm her. When both are feeding on the trunk 
of the same tree, or of adjoining ones, he is perpetually calling 
* Wilson is perfectly correct in considering this species as distinct from 
that of Europe ; he has marked out the distinctions well in the description. 
It is described by Vieillot as Sitta melanocephala — Ed. 
