The Nuthatch. 37 
bird darts after it, and, catching the treasure in its 
beak before the ground is reached, again flies up and 
fixes it in the chink ; and this time the kernel is soon 
extracted, and devoured with muchrelish. From the 
habit of cracking nuts the Nuthatch has derived this, 
its most usual name, for ‘‘ hatch ” like “‘ hatchet’ has 
sprung from the French hacher “to chop.” 
Fe. 10. 
Foot of Creeper. 
From nature. Natural size. 

Dil A 
Foot of Nuthatch, showing “pad” at base of hind toe. 
From nature. Natwral size. 
In England this interesting little bird is tolerably 
numerous all the year round, but in Scotland it is a 
rare visitor, while in Ireland it has not yet been 
observed. The Nuthatch may always be distinguished 
from other members of the order WScansores, or 
climbers, by its square, compact form and its plumage. 
The effect of its general colouring is delicate and 
