NATURAL HISTORY. 



it does not always fall, but remains clinging to the tree. The 

 nest of this elegant little bird is made in a decayed tree. The 

 eggs are from seven to nine in number, grey with dusky spots. 



Sub-family b. . Sttiince. 

 SITTA. (Gr. 





Europsea (Lat. European), the Nuthatch. 



The term NUTHATCH well explains the habits of this inter- 

 esting little bird. As may be imagined from its name, nut? 

 form a considerable portion of its food, but it also feeds largely 

 on insects, pecked from the bark of trees. While searching after 

 insects, it displays an activity even surpassing the creeper, as it 

 runs up and down the trunk, mostly descending with its head 

 downwards, a feat beyond the capacity of either creeper or 

 woodpecker. In order to break the shell of nuts, it contrives to 

 fix the nut in some crevice, and then grasping with its power- 

 ful feet, it swings its beak against the nut with the whole force 

 of its body, and soon splits the nut in pieces. In spots frequent- 

 ed by this bird, heaps of nut-shells may be seen, as it usually 

 resorts to a place where it has found a convenient resting-place 

 for the nut, just as heaps of snail-shells may be often found by 

 stones Y/hich the thrush has found fitted for breaking them. 



