NUTHATCH. 117 



Skelton, breeding most years. At Creyke there were a few 

 pairs ten or twelve years ago and probably are still. Mr. 

 J. Backhouse has once observed it in the York nurseries. 

 One of its headquarters in the North Riding used to be 

 Castle Howard, where it was an abundant nester, though 

 now it is not so common there ; it is frequent at Hovingham, 

 and in the valley of the Rye, near Helmsley, Rievaulx, and 

 Hawnby, also at Leckby Carr and Masham, in Wensleydale, 

 Bedale, Copgrove, and Bolton Woods, though scarce near 

 Richmond, Thirsk, and Northallerton. In Cleveland it nests 

 in several of the preserved woods and parks, notably 

 at Wilton and Saltburn ; a few years ago it was fairly 

 numerous at Grinkle Park, but has greatly decreased in 

 numbers. It has occurred at Whitby, and is a rare resident 

 near Scarborough. 



So long ago as 1780 Tunstall mentioned a specimen taken 

 in a little wood near his house at Wycliffe-on-Tees, where 

 he stated they were very frequent. (Timst. MS. p. 61.) 



It is of very rare occurrence in the East Riding and is 

 restricted to one or two localities. In Scampston Park 

 there were six pairs until 1894-5, and for several years two 

 pairs breeding ; until 1890 they nested in an elm tree, and 

 the last time they were observed they were building in a beech 

 tree on the lawn. At Kirby Underdale, near Pocklington, 

 a pair bred a few years ago, the male bird being afterwards 

 shot and preserved. 



A very interesting reference to the Nuthatch is mentioned 

 in a letter entitled " General Observations in Natural History, 

 made at North Bierley in Yorkshire, by Dr. R. Richardson," 

 as foUows : — " The Nuthatch or Nut- jobber is not frequently 

 to be met with in the South, yet is so common with us that 

 I have sometimes seen six or seven of them in one day in my 

 own woods. ... I have with much pleasure often observed 

 these Birds to crack nuts, which they do with very great 

 dexterity. I ordered one of my servants that was with 

 me in a wood last Christmas to observe from whence she 

 fetched her provision ; which he soon discovered in a hollow 

 tree, and cutting the place open, brought from thence 



