NUTCRACKER 



PLATE XLIX. 



Nucifraga caryocatactcs, . 



THE Nutcracker is an irregular visitant to the southern 

 half of England, never resting in this country, and has 

 little claim to be considered a British bird. Until of late 

 years nothing was known of its nesting, which was for a 

 long time erroneously described as taking place in holes in 

 decayed trees. 



The nests, which are commenced in March, are com- 

 posed of sticks and twigs of trees freshly plucked and lined 

 with grass, moss, and lichen. They are usually placed about 

 twenty to twenty-five feet from the ground, on a branch against 

 the stem. During the nesting time the birds are extremely 

 shy and quiet, consequently their habitation escapes detection. 

 It is said that the female alone incubates the eggs. 



The eggs are three to five in number, of a greyish 

 colour, spotted with lighter or darker shades of brown, which 

 vary considerably in their distribution. 



