26 Birds Every Child Should Know 



end of the twigs and the smaller branches ; the 

 tufted titmouse rids the larger boughs of in- 

 sects, eggs, and worms hidden in the scaly bark ; 

 but the nuthatches can climb to more inac- 

 cessible places. With the help of the hooks 

 on their toes it does not matter to them whether 

 they run upward, downward, or sidewise ; and 

 they can stretch their bodies away from their 

 feet at some very queer angles. Their long bills 

 penetrate into deep holes in the thick bark of 

 the tree trunks and older limbs and bring forth 

 from their hiding places insects that would 

 escape almost every other bird except the 

 brown creeper and the woodpecker. Of course, 

 when you see any feathered acrobat performing 

 in the trees, you know he is working hard to 

 pick up a dinner, not exercising merely for fun. 

 The most familiar nuthatch, in the eastern 

 United States, is the one with the white breast; 

 but in the Northern States and Canada there is 

 another common winter neighbour, a smaller 

 compactly feathered, bluish gray gymnast with 

 a pale rusty breast, a conspicuous black line 

 running apparently through his eye from the 

 base of his bill to the nape of his neck, and heavy 

 white eyebrows. This is the hardy little red- 

 breasted nuthatch. His voice is pitched rather 

 high and his drawling notes seem to come from 

 a lazy bird instead of one of the most vigorous 

 and spry little creatures in the wood. The 



