NUTHATCH. 175 



The well-known Nutliatcli was considered till lately the 

 only example of its genus in Europe ; but another species 

 having been recently discovered, which is an inhabitant of 

 Dalmatia and Stiria, has somewhat impaired the value of the 

 old specific name. The Nuthatch, the last of our group of 

 the true climbing birds, is an interesting species, and a great 

 favourite with many observers ; it inhabits woods, plantations, 

 and parks, particularly such as contain old oaks, and other 

 large forest trees. It is resident here all the year, approach- 

 ing orchards and gardens in winter ; but is not equally nu- 

 merous in every district. This bird, by means of its power- 

 ful claws, for its tail-feathers are not calculated to afford it 

 any support, is able to climb with a short quick step over the 

 rough bark of trees, and apparently Avith equal ease in any 

 direction ; our Woodpeckers are occasionally seen to hop 

 when climbing, but the Nuthatch creeps or runs along so 

 smoothly that its motions more resemble those of a mouse 

 than those of a bird. 



The names of Nuthatch and Nutjobber have been given to 

 this bird from its habit of feeding on the kernels of nuts, 

 which, however thick or hard the shells may happen to be, 

 are broken with equal ease and dexterity. The nut, or fil- 

 bert, sometimes brought from a distance, is placed in an 

 angular crevice in the bark of a tree, and the bird having 

 fixed it, moves round it as if to ascertain how best it can 

 make an impression upon it by repeated blows with the point 

 of its strong beak, aided by the whole weight of the body, 

 which is frequently placed above the nut to give greater 

 effect to the blow, and the noise made is considerable. Be- 

 sides nuts, this bird feeds on caterpillars, insects, berries, hard 

 seeds, and beech-nuts or mast : Bewick mentions that it is 

 also fond of picking bones. Old beech trees, from the deep 

 longitudinal fissures in the bark, are the fiivourite resort of 

 the Nuthatch, as affording both food and the means of enabling 



