1 86 Transactions of tJie [Sess. 



!Nuthatclies arc very impatient of restraint when captured at matur- 

 ity, tliey will become quite tame if taken young and brought up 

 by hand. They are most amusing pets, running over their owner 

 in all directions, up and down his body and limbs, poking their 

 bills into seams and holes as if in search of food upon some old 

 or rent tree, and uttering during the time a low and plaintive cry. 

 The Nuthatch flies from tree to tree in short spasmodic jerks, and 

 its mode of progression on the trees is very dissimilar from that 

 of the common Creeper {Qerthia familiaris). The latter uses its 

 stiff tail as a support in climbing; the jSTuthatch never does, but, 

 clinging Avith its tenacious claws, it creeps by short jerks forwards 

 and backwards and sideways with the greatest facility. The nest 

 of the [Nuthatch is often a hole made by the Wood^^ecker ; and 

 if the orifice is too large to be readily defended, the bird plasters 

 part of it up Avith mud, and a hole thus diminished is always a 

 safe find of a JSTuthatch-nest to bird-nesting boys. These bii'ds seem 

 to have very little fear of mankind, and to be utterly regardless of 

 his near approach, for they Avill hunt over the stems of trees for 

 food and break nuts while an onlooker stands only a few yards 

 away. I much regret that this bird, which remains Avith us in 

 England throughout the year, is almost unknown in Scotland. A¥e 

 should all welcome its cheery note and amusing habits on our 

 summer excursions. It has a Avide range on the Continent. Tavo 

 years ago, during a Avalk before breakfast at Thun, in Switzerland, 

 I saAv seven or eight of them ; and I noticed one also at Lauter- 

 brunnen, so that in that vicinity it cannot be a rare bird. There are 

 many familiar rural spring sounds in England Avhich one misses on 

 coming to Scotland. I Avould instance the " chaff " of the Chiff- 

 chaff, the laugh of the Yaffle, the charming and varied melody of the 

 Niglitingale, the plaintive Avhine of the Wryneck, tlie purring murmur 

 of the Turtle, the shriek of the brilliant Kingiisher, and the Avhistle 

 of the pretty Nuthatch, all of Avliich Avould probably be lieard at the 

 end of April in the course of a five-mile Avalk \a. WarAvickshire. 



At this meeting the Eev. li. F. Colvin read a sliort paper on the 

 Palms of India, Avhich was illustrated by specimens obtained from 

 the Eoyal Botanic Garden. 



MEETINGS OF MICROSCOFIG SEGTION. 



At a meeting of the Club, held on the 26th October 1883, it Avas 

 agreed to hold a series of meetings, during the Avinter months, for 

 practical Avork with the microscope. Five such meetings Avere held. 



