NUTHATCH, 177 



escape ; but the young birds are easily reared : and Sir 

 William Jardine relates that " he had lately an opportunity 

 of observing a nest of our native species which had been 

 taken young. They became remarkably tame ; and when 

 released from their cage, would run over their owner in 

 all directions, up or down his body and limbs, poking their 

 bills into seams or holes, as if in search of food upon some old 

 and rent tree, and uttering during the time, a low and plain- 

 tive cry. When running up or down, they rest upon the 

 back part of the wdiole tarsus, and make great use as a sup- 

 port of what may be called the real heel, and never use the 

 tail. When roosting, they sleep with the head and back 

 downwards, in the manner of several Titmice." The Nut- 

 hatch has frequent and obstinate battles with some species of 

 the Tits, for the possession of a favourite locality for nesting, 

 and this may be a reason for plastering up a considerable por- 

 tion of a large external aperture, as the smallest breach is 

 the most easily defended. 



The Nuthatch is found in most of the wooded parts of 

 England. Near London it may be frequently seen in Ken- 

 sington Gardens ; and I may here observe that I am indebted 

 to Mr. Henry Churton, of Oxford Street, for most of the notes 

 I have used referring to Kensington Gardens as a locality. 

 From London Avestward this bird, though not observed in 

 Cornvrall by Montagu, is found as far as Liskeard, and the 

 wooded eastern parts of that county, according to Mr. Couch 

 and Mr. Rodd ; but is rare in the extreme western part. 

 Mr. Eyton includes the Nuthatch in his Catalogue of the 

 Birds of Shropshire and North Wales ; but it does not ap- 

 pear to have been taken in L-eland. In the midland coun- 

 ties of England it is well known, and on the east coast is 

 found in Suffolk, Norfolk, Lincolnshire, and occasionally in 

 Yorkshire. Mr. Selby has traced it as far north as the 

 banks of the Wear and the Tyne. The authority for con- 



VOL. II. N 



