BRITISH BIRDS' NESTS. 



237 



NUTHATCH. 



NUTHATCH. 



(Sitta ccesza.) 

 Order PASSERES ; Family SITTID^ (NUTHATCHES). 



Description of Parent 

 Birds. Length about 

 six inches ; bill moder- 

 ately long, strong, 

 nearly straight, sharp 

 at the tip, and bluish- 

 black, except at the 

 base of the lower mand- 

 ible, where it is whit- 

 ish. I rides hazel. Crown 

 and all upper parts of 

 body, including wing- 

 coverts and part of tail, bluish slate-grey. Wing- 

 quills dusky, margined on the outer webs with blue. 

 Tail-quills, excepting those mentioned above, black, 

 tipped with grey, and marked on either side with 

 white. A black streak passes from the base of the bill 

 to each eye, and thence down the side of the neck. 

 Sides of head and chin white ; throat, breast, and 

 belly buff ; sides and thighs dark rust-colour or chest- 

 nut ; vent white, marked with rust-colour. Legs, 

 toes, and claws light brown, inclining to yellowish. 

 The female is lighter coloured on her under-parts. 

 Situation and Locality. -In a hole in the trunk 

 or strong branch of a tree, old stumps, and oc- 

 casionally in a hay rick or wall ; at varying depths 

 of from three or four to twelve or fifteen inches. 

 Breeds generally throughout England, although 

 most numerously in the wooded parts of the south, 

 eastern and midland counties of England, also 



