The Birds' Calendar 



The nuthatch, about six inches long, and 

 already sufficiently described for identification 

 as to color and habits, commonly travels about 

 in pairs, making its presence known by a loud 

 and peculiar tone not unlike the syllable ank, 

 and generally uttered twice ; besides this it 

 has a much softer note, and I have once heard 

 a very melodious twitter as it quietly rested 

 on a branch ; but it can hardly be regarded 

 as a song-bird, although classed among them. 

 Neither can it be called graceful nor handsome, 

 but its habits are especially interesting, and it 

 gains the more regard from being associated in 

 our mind with cold weather, for it disappears 

 at the ap[>roach of spring, breeding much far- 

 ther north. 



Wilson says : '' The name Nuthatch has been 

 bestowed on this family from their supposed 

 practice of Ijreaking nuts by repeated hatchings 

 or hammerings with their bills ; " but the same 

 writer shows good reason for doubting the va- 

 lidity of the name. 



Of the woodpeckers, a family that is ungain- 

 ly in form, but attractive in habits, I have seen 

 only two species during the month ; first, the 

 downy woodpecker, about six inches long, and 

 the smallest of the family, black and white curi- 



34 



