CHESTED TITMOUSE 



99 



indeed, there are few who know it from personal observation in this 

 country. Although modest in colour, it is a pretty little bird, and 

 its high, pointed crest gives it a somewhat distinguished appearance. 

 In its language and habits it resembles the other members of the 

 genus, and associates in the same way with birds of different species. 

 Like the coal-tit, it makes its nest in a hole in a rotten tree-stump, 

 and it will also breed in a crow's or magpie's old nest, or a squirrel's 

 drey. The nest is made of dry grass, moss, wool, hair, fur, and 

 feathers, thinly felted together ; and five or six eggs are laid, white 

 in ground-colour, spotted and speckled with brownish red. 



Nuthatch. 

 Sitta csesia. 



Fig. 36. — Nuthatch. | natural size. 

 feet light brown. Length, five inches and a half. 



Upper parts 



bluish grey; a black 

 streak across the 

 eye ; cheeks and 

 throat white; breast 

 and beUybuff; flank 

 and lower tail- 

 coverts chestnut- 

 red ; outer tail 

 feathers black, with 

 a white spot near 

 the end tipped with 

 grey, the two central 

 ones grey ; beak 

 bluish black, the 

 lower mandible 



white at the base; 



The nuthatch, although a small bird, not brightly coloured, and 

 scarcely deserving the name of songster, exercises a singular at- 

 tracticn ; and if it were possible to canvass all those who love birds, 

 and have not fewer than half a dozen favourites, it is probable that 

 in a great majority of cases the nuthatch would be found among 

 them. When I see him sitting quite still for a few moments on a 

 branch of a tree in his most characteristic nuthatch attitude, on or 



