THE NUTHATCH. 209 



support the spine in climbing, as is the case with the 

 woodpecker. The feet are of the passerine type, in 

 contradistinction to the yoke- toed modification. That part of 

 the nuthatch which most closely resembles the corresponding 

 part of the woodpecker is the bill. It is a straight, stout, 

 sharp-pointed wedge, and well does its owner know how to 

 make good use of it in a variety of ways. First, the bird 

 depends entirely on its bill for procuring its food, as it is not 

 gifted with the marvellous, extensile tongue of the wood- 

 pecker family. If the movements of the bird are watched 

 as it rambles, regardless of the laws of gravity, over every 

 part of the tree, it is seen to frequently stop and closely 

 examine the cracks and crevices of the bark, from which it 

 delicately removes some of the smallest forms of insect life. 

 But should the bird, however, detect some grub lurking 

 deeply beneath the surface, he does not hesitate to use 

 stronger measures, and ■ soon hacks away the bark and 

 decaying wood until the coveted morsel is obtained. 



But there is even a still rougher use to which this bill is 

 subjected, and from which particular habit the bird derives 

 its name. As soon as ever the nuts are ripening in the 

 garden, the nuthatch becomes aware of the fact, and may be 

 seen searching for, and nipping off, the most advanced 

 filberts. It is evident that the bird cannot extract the 

 kernel on the spot. What therefore does he do ? Off he 

 flies, carrying the nut in his bill, to some favourite tree 

 whose bark is full of cracks and -holes. Into one of these 

 crannies he wedges the nut, and taking his stand above it, 

 with his head downwards, in order to obtain the greatest 

 power, he continues to hammer away at it until a piece of 

 the shell cracks off and the kernel is exposed. If the nut 

 becomes dislodged, the bird replaces it, and it has been seen 

 to catch the nut in its bill before it has had time to reach 



