261 

 THE NUTHATCH. 



BY 0. S. ROUND, ESQ. 



This is the Sitta Uuropea of Linnseus, and forms a kind of link~between 

 the Woodpeckers and the Titmice, of the characters of both of which it 

 partakes. Like both, it builds in hollows of trees; like both, it feeds on 

 insects, although these do not constitute its whole food; like both, it stays 

 with us the whole year, and is an active and bold bird. Although at 

 first sight it has not the appearance of the Woodpecker, yet view it in 

 the hand, and when in an erect position the resemblance cannot be denied. 

 It is by far the best creeper of the whole prehensile genus, as it seems 

 to make no earthly difference whether it crawls on the trunk of a tree 

 up, or down, or sideways: it also perches like any of the Insectivorse, and 

 has a square short tail, for, from its very thickness and muscular con- 

 formation, it needs no fulcrum to assist its motions when running over the 

 bodies of trees, being perfectly capable of supporting itself in any position 

 by means of its great bodily power and strength of leg. In size the 

 Nuthatch much resembles the Wryneck, with which, indeed, it forms a 

 separate class. All its upper plumage is of a blue-grey colour, and its 

 under parts light cream; a black line over the eye; the bill being very 

 strong and black, the under mandible light at the base; the legs formed 

 for the greatest power, having an exceedingly wide span, and being light- 

 coloured, with very strong claws: the feathers under the wings are 

 chocolate-coloured. 



It is quite surprising to see what strength and perseverance is exhibited 

 by this little creature. A great part of his food is nuts, and the shells 

 of them he perforates by sheer hard labour; after he has picked the nut 

 he carries it to some convenient chink in a gate-post, wall, or more com- 

 monly a cleft in the bark of a tree, and fixing it firmly there, he takes 

 a position as advantageously as he can directly above it, and springing 

 at it in the most determined manner, with wings fluttering at every 

 stroke; you may see, and hear him too, hammering away until he makes 

 a jagged hole, through which he extracts the kernel; and in fine weather 

 he is at this work from morning till night, so he need be firmly made, 

 muscularly speaking. I have watched them for hours together, when 

 visiting in the country, at a house round which were many acacias, the 

 rugged bark of which was peculiarly adapted for their purpose. 



Their nest they generally make in some hollow of a tree, or often in 

 a hole of a wall, but, as they are very averse to intrusion, they reduce 

 the original orifice by means of clay, which is firmly plastered around the 

 entrance with their bills, and is full of small indentations from the point of 



VOL. VII. 2 M 



