Some Experiences in Attracting Birds 



169 



even at a considerable distance. Some of the pitch was later melted by the heat 

 of the sun and ran down the front of the box in drops, which can clearly be seen 

 in the accompanying photograph. This picture was taken immediately after 

 the young birds had flown, when the box was taken down temporarily. The 

 photograph also shows that most of the pitch was placed at the lower right- 

 hand side of the hole, but there was, in addition, a thin layer which almost 

 encircled the hole, but which was too nearly transparent to be visible in the 

 picture. There was one 

 place, however, at the 

 lower left-hand side of 

 the hole where the pitch 

 was absent, and it was 

 always at this point 

 that the birds clung 

 before entering the 

 hole. 



Naturally I hoped 

 I might find some clue 

 to the birds' purpose 

 in putting on the pitch, 

 but in this I was dis- 

 appointed. Not only 

 did I fail to observe the 

 actual process of apply- 

 ing the pitch, but I was 

 unable to see that its 

 presence affected the 

 movements of the birds 

 in any way, except that 

 they always entered 

 the hole at the place 

 where the pitch was 

 absent. There was 

 nothing to indicate 

 that the pitch would be effective in keeping out enemies or in catching 

 insects which might serve as food. I discussed this matter with Mr. C. J. 

 Maynard, the naturalist, and he suggested that it might be a relic of some ances- 

 tral habit when, perhaps, the female may have been entirely sealed in during 

 the nesting-period. In this connection he pointed out that at the present time 

 there are certain species of Hornbills in Asia and Africa in which the females 

 are plastered up in the nest by the males and are fed by the latter through a 

 small hole. But whatever is the explanation in the case of the Red-breasted 

 Nuthatch, it is a habit on which it would be well to have more information. 



BERLEPSCH BOX USED BY RED-BREASTED NUT- 

 HATCHES SHOWING PITCH AROUND HOLE 

 Photographed by H. T. Shaw, Jr. 



