598 



PERCHINCx BIRDS 



spangled with small white stars ; the wing-quills are, however, black ; 

 the tail-feathers black, tinged with green, and, with the exception of 

 the inner pair, tipped with white ; and the under tail-coverts wholly 

 white. A brownish tinge on the quills is distinctive of hens, whether 

 adult or immature. 



From Scandinavia to Japan, and in the mountains of central and 

 south-central Europe, the nutcracker is to be found almost universally 

 where large pine-forests exist, and is one of the most characteristic 



birds of the deodar-woods of 

 Kashmir, where its presence is 

 made known by its loud and 

 characteristic note. 



A considerable number of 

 instances (too many to record in 

 detail) of the occurrence of this 

 bird in Great Britain have been 

 noted ; but it is somewhat doubt- 

 ful whether the species is really 

 entitled to a definite place in the 

 British list. Recently, however, 

 a whole party of these birds made 

 their appearance in Shropshire, 

 where thc\' were seen repeatedly 

 b}- some ladies in the garden 

 behind their house. In this 

 garden, according to a local 

 narrator, there is a large \cw-tree, 

 whilst close by are several plan- 

 tations of conifers and other 

 trees ; the whole neighbourhood 

 being more or less wooded. The ladies first noticed a single 

 strange bird on the lawn below the yew-tree towards the end of 

 August. It was larger than a starling and lighter in colour, whilst its 

 walk was a kind of strut similar to that of a rook. When a week or 

 so later the same bird again appeared accompanied by several others 

 of the same kintl thc\' began to try and ascertain its species. The 

 birds were undoubtedly nutcrackers, and they continued to visit the 

 garden from time to time up till the end of September. On some 

 occasions they were seen several times in a day, and the\- apparently 

 numbered five, but possibly six. They were ver)- slu', and always flew 

 away when any one appeared in the garden, going sometimes into the 



RD STUOtOS 



NUTCKACKKK. 



