200 
SITTA CAROL INENSIS. 
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 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 an 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 cornishing 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 
