192 



HABITS OF THE NUTHATCH. 



inhabited by the grub of the nut weevil. It will also feed upon the seeds of different plants, 

 especially preferring those which it pecks out of the fir-cones. Beech mast also seems grateful 

 to its palate, and it will occasionally take to eating fruit. 



In order to extract the kernel of the nut, the bird fixes the fruit securely in some con- 

 venient crevice, and, by dint of repeated hammerings with its beak, breaks a large ragged hole 

 in the shell, through which the kernel is readily extracted. The blows are not merely given 

 by the stroke of the beak, but the bird grasps firmly with its strong claws, and swinging its 

 whole body upon its feet, delivers its stroke with the full weight and sway of the body. 



The beak, by means of which this feat is accomplished, is remarkably strong and power- 

 ful, and can be used with a vigor and endurance that is quite astonishing. Many instances of 



its powers have been 

 narrated, among which 

 we may mention that 

 one of these birds 

 which had been cap- 

 tured in a common 

 brick trap, and had 

 remained in its dark 

 cell for some hours, 

 was found when re- 

 leased to have been 

 deprived of one-third 

 of its beak, which had 

 evidently been ground 

 away by the continual 

 pecking which had 

 been kept up at the 

 bricks. The person 

 who caught the bird 

 and who narrated the 

 tale is the Reverend 

 Mr. Bree. Another of 

 these birds that had 

 been put into a cage, 

 immediately began to 



hammer at the wooden supports of its prison, and although severely wounded in the wing, 

 refused to cease from its exertions except to eat and drink, both of which operations it 

 performed with the greatest coolness. For two days the poor bird continued to peck unceas- 

 ingly at his cage, and at the close of the second day, sank under its extraordinary exertions. 

 The Nuthatch is a capital climber of tree-trunks, even surpassing the creeper in the agility 

 with which it ascends and descends the perpendicular surface, clinging firmly with its strong 

 claws, and running equally well whether its head be upwards or downwards. Even the creeper 

 does not attempt to run down a tree with its head towards the ground. It is a very hardy 

 bird, continuing to pick up an abundant supply of food even in the depths of winter, always 

 appearing plump and lively. 



The nest of the Nuthatch is placed in the hollow of a decaying tree, and the bird always 

 chooses some hole to which there is but a small entrance. Should the orifice be too large to 

 please its taste, it ingeniously builds up the orifice with clay and mud, probably to prevent 

 the intrusion of any other bird. If any foe should venture too near the nest, the mother bird 

 becomes exceedingly valiant, and dashing boldly at her enemy, bites and pecks so vigorously 

 with her powerful beak, hissing and scolding the while, that she mostly succeeds in driving 

 away the assailant. The nest is a very inartificial structure, made chiefly of dried leaves laid 

 loosely \ipon the decaying wood, and rudely scraped into the form of a nest. 



In its color the Nuthatch is rather a pretty bird, of pleasing though not of brilliantly 



NUTHATCH. - tiitta caxia. 



