Birds of Britain 



becoming rarer towards the north. In Scotland it has only 

 been observed in a few counties, and has never been met 

 with in Ireland. 



It is a very shy bird, but is most interesting to observe, 

 as he runs up and down with extreme facility, assuming, 

 as he does so, many graceful and curious positions. Unlike 

 the Woodpeckers, which only run up the trees, it seems 

 quite immaterial to this species whether he be going up, 

 down, or sideways, forwards or backwards, for in all positions 

 he seems equally at home. He will be more often heard 

 than seen as the sharp, shrill note will betray his where- 

 abouts, though by keeping on the far side of the tree he 

 avoids being seen. Insects are largely eaten in summer, 

 but seeds, berries, nuts, and beechmast form his chief food. 

 Nuts and hard seeds are taken to some convenient crevice 

 in the bark and hammered with the sharp, hard bill until an 

 entrance having been effected, the kernel can be pulled out 

 and eaten. Some hole in a tree or wall, or more rarely in 

 a bank, is chosen as the nesting-site ; the entrance is 

 generally plastered up with mud till only a small circular 

 hole, just large enough to admit the bird, is left. The inside 

 of the cavity is lined with a few leaves and scraps of bark 

 on which five to seven eggs, boldly marked with reddish 

 brown, are laid. These eggs bear a close resemblance to 

 those of the Great Tit, but are, as a general rule, rather 

 larger. In the courting season the male has a pretty 

 little song, and " shows off" to the female as he chases 

 her up and down the trees. It is a strictly resident 

 species and may be found in the same spot throughout 

 the year. 



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