2l8 



Bird- Lore 



WHITE -BREASTED NUTHATCH AND SUET. NOTE THE GRASP 

 OF THE BIRD'S EXTENDED FOOT 



A Friendly Nuthatch 



Last winter I kept a lunch-counter for the 

 lairds just outside a window of my room. It 

 was visited by several different species of 



birds, but the most 

 frequent patrons 

 were the White- 

 breasted Nut- 

 hatches. They ate 

 everything from 

 cracked corn to suet, 

 but seemed particu- 

 larly fond of walnut 

 meats. I took ad- 

 vantage of this and, 

 after the birds had 

 become accustomed 

 to my presence at 

 the window, tried 

 feeding them from 

 my hand. One little 

 fellow became much 

 tamer than the rest 

 and after a few days 

 of training he 

 hopped upon my 

 hand and fed quite 

 fearlessly. After eating a few pieces he invar- 

 iably took one and flew to a nearby tree, 

 where he hid it in a crevice in the bark. 



Later in the winter, the Nuthatch hopped 

 upon my arm, and even upon the top of my 



WHITE-BRE.\STED NUTHATCH AT WINDOW FEEDING TR.\Y 



