The Nutcracker 153 



The situation of the nest is said to be always on a not very tall pine-tree, 

 from eighteen to twenty-five feet from the ground, on a branch against the stem. 

 It is about a foot in diameter, about five inches in depth, with the cavity four 

 inches in diameter, and from one and a half to two inches in depth. The 

 foundation is composed of lichen-covered twigs of larch and spruce, finished off 

 with fresh birch-twigs, and lined with dry grass and the inner bark of trees, with 

 a little loose eartli ; the final lining is grass, generally dry, but sometimes fresh." 

 The number of eggs is from three to five ; they are bluish or creamy- white, with 

 the surface-spots olive or leather-brown, and with grey shell-spots : in the distri- 

 bution of the markings and their size they vary much as in other Corvuicc. 



Although, in the winter, vSeebohm says that "Their tameuess was quite absurd. 

 They allowed us to go within three feet of them; and sometimes they even 

 permitted us to touch them with a stick," this confidence disappears during the 

 breeding-season when they become very shy and wary. 



The food of the Nutcracker consists of insects of all kinds and their larvse, 

 the larger dung-laeetles having been found in its stomach, as well as many other 

 species of different Orders, seeds of conifers, nuts, acorns, berries, etc. It is 

 probable tliat it also devours the eggs and newly hatched young of other birds. 



Seebohm mentions two notes : — the first, which he considers to be the call- 

 note, is a sort of plaintive kya\, kray ; the other, which he thinks is the alarm-note 

 is a loud grating kr-kr-kr. 



The following notes respecting the Nutcracker in captivity were kindly 

 forwarded to me by the late Rev. H. A. Macpherson. 



"It was early in the year 1893 that a pair of Nutcrackers entered my 

 possession. I understood that the London dealer from whom I purchased them 

 had received them from Hungary. They were in fine condition, and I placed 

 them in an out-door aviary. The plumage of these birds was identical, but the 

 male was a finer and larger bird than his companion. Their lively movements 

 recalled my observations of this species in the Bernese Oberland. All their actions 

 were sprightly and animated. The agility with which the Nutcracker hops from 

 one branch of pine to another resembles the action of the Common Jay. These 

 tame birds lived upon Spanish nuts. We usually broke the nuts open for them, 

 but tliej' could perform the task for themselves. The Nutcracker first inserts a 

 nut into a suitable crevice, and then breaks it with repeated blows of the bill. 

 The nut is then shelled, and the kernel is swallowed, the outside being allowed 

 to fall to the ground. 



The male bird seemed to tyrannize over his mate, at least he gave her many 

 sly pecks which she accepted as a matter of course. They differed occasionally 



Vol. II. K2 



