T a b . X X X V I .
N U CIFR AGA HEMISPILA.
N u c . c a s ta n e o -b nm n e a : c a p ite su b tu s, collo cmte riori, dorso, p e c to r eq u e albo m a c id a tis ; capite
summo, alis, r e c tric ibusque in ten se Im m n e is ; his, duabus modtis e x c ep tis, a d apicem late
albis.
L o n g itu d o corporis, 14 u n c .
Until tlie present bird was discovered, a single species constituted the |)cculiar and isolated genus Ntidfraga.
Closely related to the European Nucifraga canjocatactcs (Nutcracker), yet diiTering in its larger body and less
proportioned beak, and in Imving the spots confined to the upper p a rt o f the plninage, while the breast and
belly are in the British bird equally covered with them, tlie iV. hemispilu may be considered as one o f those
remarkable objects o f nature, which, with a decided identity of form and character, but with slight though
permanent distinctions, arc placed in remote countries as respective representations of the same group.
Like its European congener, the habits of the present bird lead it to choose thick woods as its habitation,
where it feeds on the larger species o f insects, worms, &c., as well as fruits. By its frequent occurrence in
the collection it may be supposed a bird by no means uncommon.
'D ie top o f the head is deep brown; the back, sides of the neck, cheeks and under parts, dull chestnut,
sjiotted, csjiecially on the cheeks and sides o f the neck, with wliitc ; the wings are black ; the two middle
tail-feathers are also black, the two ne.xt tipped with white, the rest white having a black base ; the bill and
tarsi arc black.
'I'lie Plate represents an adult of the natural size.