30 



The name Nuthatch was given to birds of this family 

 because of their supposed habit of hammering or "hatching" 

 at nuts to get at the meat within, but as far as I know, none 

 of the four species found in the United States ever open 

 nuts of any kind. They are^ however, very fond of the 

 kernels and are often fed upon them as well as suet during 

 winter months, by kind-hearted folks. Nuthatches, Chicka- 



Fig. 28. BROTHER AND SISTER. 



Note the gray crown on the female and the jet black one of the 

 male. 



dees, Downj^ and Hairy Woodpeckers are usually resident 

 wherever they are found so that, besides the pleasure 

 gained by watching them eat from the table provided for 

 them, they may remain and nest the next summer in the 

 vicinity. Any community that is so fortunate as to be the 

 dwelling place of a number of these birds is to be envied, 

 for they do inestimable good by destroying mmy insects 

 that ravage shade trees, fruit trees and plants. 



