THE WHITE-BREASTED NUTHATCH. 



-'39 



and this bird is master of it all. Top side, bottom side, inside, outside — this 

 bird is there, fearless, confident ; in fact, he rather prefers traveling head down- 

 ward, especially on the main trunk route. He pries under bark-scales and 

 lichens, peers into crevices and explores cavities in his search for tiny insects, 

 larvae and insects' eggs — especially the latter. The value of the service which 

 this bird and his close associates perform for the horticulturist is simply incal- 

 culable. There should be as heavy a penalty imposed upon one who wantonly 

 killed a Nuthatch or a Chickadee, as upon one who entered an enclosure and 

 cut down an orchard or a shade tree. 



I'ATKOMZIM', TIIK FRi;i; I.IXCII C01 ITER 



The Nuthatch has a variety of notes, all distinguished by a peculiar nasal 

 quality. When hunting with the tn op. lie give-- an occasional softly resonant 

 tut or till I ut. as if to remind his fellows that all's well. The halloo note is more 

 decided, tin, pronounced a la Francais. By means of this note and by 

 using it in combination, they seem to be able to carry on quite an animated con- 

 versation, calling across from tree to tree. During the mating season and 

 often at other times they have an even more decided and distinctive note, 

 quonk, quonk, quonk, or ho-onk, ho-onk, in moderate pitch and with deliber- 

 ation. Their si >ng. if such they may be said to have, consists of a rapid succes- 



