NUTHATCHES 



603 



ground in some tall, rotten stub which the least jar threatens 

 to send crashing to the ground. In fact many of their nests 

 are in stubs that will not bear climbing, though often readily 

 reached from a sound neighboring tree. All the nests I have 

 observed were well smeared around the entrance with fir pitch 

 for a space of three or four inches, to which occasionally the 

 feathers of the owners may be found adhering. 



The eggs are four to eight in number, more often five or 

 six, and they are white, more or less spotted with cinnamon, 

 rufous brown and lavender. One type of eggs is rather evenly 

 and finely dotted all over, another type is spotted toward the 

 larger end, while still another type is heavily wreathed with 

 blotches about the larger ends. In general the eggs can scarcely 

 be told from those of the Chickadee. 



A set in my collection taken at Orono, May 27, 1892, was 

 found in a hole in a fir stub twenty feet from the ground. 

 The only way to secure the eggs was by bending the stub 

 toward me until it broke at the base, meanwhile supporting it 

 on my shoulder, and gradually walking backward and lowering 

 it. These eggs measure 0.60 x 0.49, 0.62 x 0.49, 0.61 x 0.48 

 0.61 X 0.46, 0.58 x 0.49. 0.61 x 0.49, and contained large 

 embryos. A nest found in a fir stub fifteen feet from the 

 ground. May 25, 1896, contained five fresh eggs measuring 

 0.60 X 0.45, 0.62 x 0.48, 0.62. x 0.47, 0.62 x 0.48, 0.63 x 

 0.47. The diameter of the entrance was an inch, the diameter 

 of the inside of the nest cavity was three inches and the depth 

 four inches. The nest proper was composed of fine shredded 

 bark and feathers. 



The birds are always tame, remaining in the vicinity and 

 uttering constant calls to each other as their nest is being 

 examined. The female generally does the bulk of the incubating 

 while the male talks to her from no great distance, frequently 

 going to the nest with insect dainties with which he feeds her. 

 I found that a smart rap on the stub would generally induce 

 the female to peer out with a questioning air, but frequently 



