TREE-CLIMBING BIRDS 155 



distinct from ours; one species being peculiar to the 

 Island of Corsica. 



The Nuthatches form a link between the Tree- 

 creepers and the Titmice, but they still retain a 

 clear individuality of their own. Like the Creepers, 

 they move with the utmost facilit}' upon the trunks 

 of trees, often descending head-foremost; but, in 

 place of using the tail, creeper-like, to steady them- 

 selves, thev rest the whole of the leg upon the 

 bark, moving from the hip-joint. This attitude is 

 also adopted \\hen thev are engaged in breaking 

 the shells of nuts or acorns, and in this respect they 

 follow the habit of the Great Tit. The Nuthatch, 

 however, is far more expert in dealing with hard 

 substances than anv member of the Tit family. It 

 is an interesting thing to watch him, bearing a nut 

 or beech-mast in his bill, and casting about for some 

 suitable crevice in which to fix it. When this is 

 found — and it is surprising how soon he lights 

 upon some crack in a post, or angle between the 

 trunk and branch of a tree, adapted for his purpose 

 — he at once wedges the husk firmly in its place, 

 and, in the most workmanlike manner, proceeds to 

 attack it. Whh his legs resting firmly on the 

 wood, he throws back his whole body like a living 

 pickaxe, and with his strong, sharply-pointed bill, 

 strikes resounding blow after blow against the 

 shell, which speedily gives way, leaving the kernel 

 exposed. If, in the course of his work, a piece of 

 the kernel flies into the air, he catches it with a 

 downward swoop before it reaches the ground, and 

 instantly resumes his task. 



Apart from acorns, nuts, and various hard seeds. 



