316 CERTHID^E. 



hard seeds, are similarly treated by the Nuthatch ; cherry- 

 stones, I suspect, are beyond his powers, yielding only to 

 the massive beak of the Hawfinch. The Nuthatch may 

 easily be induced to visit gardens by wedging hazel or 

 Spanish nuts into the bark of trees ; a walnut fastened on 

 by a pin is equally effectual. But no more enticing bait 

 can be set than a lump of fat meat, which should be tied 

 tightly by a string to the horizontal branch of an apple 

 tree or any other tree, a good view of which can be 

 commanded from the house. If the weather be severe 

 and the ground covered with snow, it is surprising what 

 a variety of birds will come to partake of the unknown 

 food. Robins, Sparrows, Tits of several kinds, Chaffinches, 

 and others flock for a share, not without sundry bickerings, 

 alarms, and semblances of fighting. But should a Nut- 

 hatch happen to appear, all retire until his highness is 

 satisfied. He enters upon the scene in a way of his own. 

 Other birds alight on a bough or twig at some little 

 distance from the banquet and make gradual advances. 

 Not so the Nuthatch ; he darts forward in a horizontal 

 line, as if propelled by a missile, sticks by his claws to 

 whatever part of the branch he happens to touch, not 

 caring in what attitude he alights, stops for a second as 

 if to assure himself in what direction his head is pointing, 

 creeps nimbly round to the morsel, takes his stand on it 

 and hammers away until he has separated a large lump. 

 This he then seizes in his beak and retires to a place of 

 seclusion, leaving the inferior animals to squabble to their 

 hearts' content over the crumbs which he has dislodged, 

 and presently discomfits them again by a reappearance. 

 What his powers as a combatant may be I cannot say ; 

 great, it may be supposed, for no one is inclined to do 

 him battle, and he is not sociably disposed even towards 

 those of his own kind. 



