82 THE BIRDS OF SUSSEX. 



nest, notwithstanding that they smelt very strongly and were so 

 black that I afterwards saw the seven eggs greatly discoloured 

 by them. In a similar situation at the back of an old bee- 

 house was a nest_, the outside of which was composed of the 

 dried flower-stalks of the Portugal laurel, and lined entirely 

 with the cotton-like substance of the catkin of the balsam 

 poplar. 



At Henfield there was a nest in a very singular situation, 

 having been placed in a hole caused by the partial decay of 

 the post, and falling out of the mortar, by the side of the 

 principal door of a cottage where people were constantly 

 passing in and out. I w^as told that for several years this 

 place had been made use of by Tits, but that this was the 

 first instance of a Creeper taking possession, and that the 

 birds had all been protected by the occupiers of the cottage. 



The Creeper is resident and very hardy, accompanying in 

 winter the parties of Tits in their excursions through the 

 woods. 



SITTID^. 



NUTHATCH. 



Sitta ccesia. 



A COMMON inhabitant of woods and orchards wherever there 

 is large timber, where it breeds in holes, reducing the open- 

 ing when needful, to its own size, by plastering with clay. 

 It will take freely to boxes put up for the purpose. In 

 March 1871, I placed some rustic nest-boxes in trees near 

 my house. The next week two were taken possession of by 

 as many pairs of Nuthatches, and in June, or the beginning 



