Heri" Schutt on the Breeding of the Nutcracker. 365 



lower to a higher elevation, or vice versa, according to the season; 



that both birds are Orioles, of somewhat similar habits, the one 



form having pink bills {Oriolus proper), the other having blue 



bills [Psaropholus], but both leaden-grey legs. 



I remain, yours, &c., 



Robert Swinhoe. 

 London, September 1st, 1862. 



XLIII. — Contribution to the Breeding History of the Nutcracker 

 (Nucifraga caryocatactes). By E. Schutt*. 



At the instigation of our highly respected ornithologist. Dr. 

 Baldamus, I had already last year given all possible attention to, 

 and offered a pretty high reward for, the discovery of the nest 

 of the Nutcracker, For myself, indeed, I had no great expectation 

 of realizing this wish ; for, from the natural indolence of the 

 mountaineers and the easy but sure profit they ordinarily make, 

 any effort to induce them to search after something uncertain, 

 even if a high reward is offered, usually fails. It is difficult 

 besides to give the people a notion of the wished-for object : if 

 one only shows them, as I did on previous occasions, a stuffed 

 specimen, they pay but little heed to it. AVhen I myself went to 

 visit the places where formerly I had frequently observed the bird, 

 on arriving at the top, I had only the satisfaction at every step 

 of breaking through the highly frozen crust of a four-feet deep 

 snow, and of stepping over a mass of snow-w^eighted branches ; 

 and, at last, after spending many hours in making my way back, 

 I had to give up my intention after a short search. Some months 

 later I received intelligence that the nest had been found, with 

 young birds and eggs, but, on account of the advanced state of 

 incubation, had not been brought to me ! This spring I have 

 been more fortunate, the mountains, being exceptionally free from 

 snow at the present time, having particularly favoured my project. 

 I beg my readers, however, to excuse my somewhat minute 

 description. When one knows so little of the breeding of an 

 animal, the slightest fact often has value. 



In the course of an unsuccessful Capercally-chase (for with us 

 the rut begins later than in Northern Germany), and accom- 



• Translated from the ' Journal fiir Ornithologie ' for 1862, p. 125. 



