BROWN-HEADED NUTHATCH* 
205 
the one in the woods without observing’ or hearing- tine 
other not far off. It climbs equally in every direction, 
on the smaller branches as well as on the body of the 
tree, in search of its favourite food, small insects and 
their larvae. It also feeds on the seeds of the pine 
tree. I have never met with its nest. 
This species is four inches and a quarter long-, and 
eight broad; the whole upper part of the head and 
neck, from the bill to the back, and as far down as the 
eyes, is light brown, or pale ferruginous, shaded with 
darker touches, with the exception of a spot of white 
near the back ; from the nostril through the eyes, the 
brown is deepest, making a very observable line there ; 
the chin, and sides of the neck under the eyes, are 
white ; the wings, dusky ; the coverts and three secon- 
daries 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 that activity and restless diligence should 
constitute stupidity, 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. 
