152 NEWS FROM THE BIRDS. 



spect. When I gently drove them to another 

 tree they were careful not to fly against the 

 icy side, knowing well enough that they could 

 not secure a foothold there. They would some- 

 times scramble along the edge of the ice as if 

 strongly tempted to venture farther. No doubt 

 they knew where there were some corn grains 

 or sunflower seeds in the crannies of the bark, 

 which they would have relished on that cold 

 winter day had they been get-at-able ; but of 

 course they were beyond the reach of the birds, 

 though not beyond theii^ sight, held fast be- 

 neath that hard, glassy covering. Perhaps the 

 nuthatches felt a little provoked, too, for their 

 calls seemed to be more petulant than usual. 



And how should they be aware of the pres- 

 ence of grains and seeds in the gullies of the 

 bark ? Because they lay by a store of such 

 supplies in the autumn for the winter's use. 

 I have more than once seen them doing this. 

 On that very day I had another proof, in ad- 

 dition to many previous proofs, of this provi- 

 dent habit, for I saw a nuthatch draw a grain 

 of corn from a crevice, and then scamper about 

 on the tree until he found a convenient pocket 

 in which to thrust it while he picked it to 

 pieces and ate it ; and this took place in the 

 very depth of the woods, with no cornfield or 



