MOHOUAS. 



97 



birds abound, as they return repeatedly to the same spot for the convenience 

 of cracking their nuts. The nuthatch breeds in time-worn trees and occasion- 

 ally selects the deserted habitation of a woodpecker. According to Colonel 

 Montague and other observers, if the hole leading to its nest be too large, the 

 bird plasters up a part of the entrance with mud so as to reduce the aperture 



Fig. 49.— The Eukotean Nuthatch {S,itia Europad). 



to the needful size, thus preventing the intrusion of larger birds, or, perhaps, 

 as a writer has suggested, forming a guard so as to hinder the impatient nest- 

 lings from falling out and thus being killed on the spot. This habit of plaster- 

 ing is alluded to in one of the French names for the nuthatch, " Pic-magon." 

 The nest is entirely composed of dead leaves, especially those of the oak. The 

 female lays from five to seven eggs, of a grey white, spotted with reddish brown. 

 She defends her young charge with determined courage, hissing and striking 

 violently with her bill. 



Sub- Family VI. 

 THE MOHOUAS. 0RTH0NYCIN.4-. 



General Characteristics. — Toes long and very strong; the outer toe nearly as 

 long as the middle one, and united slightly at the base, the hind toe moderate and 

 very strong ; the claws remarkably long, strong, slightly curved, and acute. 



This sub-family embraces a small group of birds found in the 

 islands of the South Seas, and also in New Zealand. Like the 



T 



