THE WHITE-BREASTED NUTHATCH 



The other tree-trunk birds, except the black and 

 white warbler, usually ascend trees. 

 Range: North America, east of the Plains. A permanent resi- 

 dent, though irregularly distributed. Breeds from 

 central Canada to the northern parts of the Gulf 

 States. 



OF the so-called tree-trunk birds, none are easier to 

 identify than nuthatches, because of their habit 

 of descending trees. Woodpeckers jerk themselves up a 

 tree somewhat as men might ascend telegraph-poles or 

 smooth slippery palm trees. Creepers wind spirally about 

 trunks in a gentle, unobtrusive manner. Both wood- 

 peckers and creepers use their sharply-pointed tails as 

 props. Not so the nuthatches. They care not how they 

 go — "uphill or down dale" — all is one to them. They are 

 as sure-footed as burros descending the Grand Canyon. 

 If they depart from their trail, and decide to leap from 

 crag to crag of their arboreal cliffs, they alight on their 

 strong feet with something of the assurance of a cat. 

 Their tails are not necessary to them as supports. 



It is interesting to inquire into the reasons for curious 

 habits of birds. In the economy of Nature one finds mar- 

 velous adaptations and harmonies. Mr. Francis H. 

 Allen, in his delightful sketch written for the National As- 

 sociation of Audubon Societies, speaks of the nuthatch as 

 "filling a gap in nature" by approaching his prey from an 

 angle not possible to woodpeckers and creepers. Mr. 

 Allen says: "He would not have adopted so unusual a 

 method of feeding if it had not stood him in good stead. 

 I suspect that by approaching his prey from above he de- 

 tects insects and insect-eggs in the crevices of the bark 

 which would be hidden from another point of view. The 



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