THE NUTHATCH 
SITTA CASIA 
LocaL names in surrounding counties : 
Stratus IN British AvirAunaA: A local resident, com- 
monest in the southern and central English counties ; 
rarer northwards, and accidental in Scotland; unknown 
in Ireland. 
Rap1AL DisTrRIBUTION WITHIN FIFTEEN MILES OF ST 
Paut’s: This handsome bird is fairly uniformly distri- 
buted over the Metropolitan area in all places suited to 
its needs, breeding in many localities and frequently 
visiting urban areas during the non-nesting season. It 
may be met with in almost every locality given for the 
Creeper, and precisely the same remarks apply to its 
errant wanderings. It often visits the lawns of suburban 
villas, has been noticed in Kensington Gardens, and I 
have on several occasions seen it on trees growing by the 
side of bus- and tram-frequented roads. It is said to 
breed at Dulwich, and I have records of it doing so at 
Richmond, Wimbledon, Merton, Epsom, Banstead, and 
Croydon. In Middlesex it breeds at Osterley, Norwood, 
Hanwell, Harrow, and Wembley, and is often seen at 
Hendon, Hampstead, and Highgate, probably breeding 
in the latter locality. It is, of course, found at Epping 
and Wanstead, whilst across the river in Kent the Crays 
are a favourite resort, and Langley Park may also be 
mentioned. Beech woods and hazel coppices are favourite 
resorts of this species, but the bird wanders far and wide, 
and may be met with amongst every variety of timber, 
old parks being a great attraction. 
Although more showy in coloration than the Creeper, 
the Nuthatch, from its retiring ways, is almost as much 
overlooked. It delights in precisely the same haunts, 
and has the same way of appearing accidentally in a spot 
IOI 
