NUTHATCH. 367 



The curious mode by which the Nuthatch assists 

 its own powerful means, by fixing the object to be 

 wrought upon, has been detailed by most of our 

 writers. The nut or stone is fixed into the chink 

 or crack of a post or bark of a tree, and is there 

 hanmered at until split ; the same place being 

 resorted to for a considerable time, as may be 

 seen from the quantity of shells and splinters 

 accumulated beneath ; and we think it more than 

 probable that this instinctive knowledge may be 

 given to many of the scansores which require 

 assistance, and feed on nuts and kernels ; even 

 among the Woodpeckers, which are more truly 

 insectivorous, and if it is more limited what we 

 have stated in our account of the Greater Spotted 

 Woodpecker is a curious instance of alliance in 

 the instincts of the two families. We have no 

 record of the manners of the other European 

 species, or of the Indian birds, in this part of 

 their habits. 



The Nuthatch breeds in holes of trees, often in 

 those prepared by the Woodpeckers, and where 

 the hole is too large at the entrance it is patched 

 or built up with clay. The nest, or rather the 

 bottom of the hole, is filled with dried leaves, 

 moss, &c. ; and during incubation the eggs are 

 defended from any aggressor by strokes of the 

 bill, and a violent hissing. 



The upper parts, and two centre tail feathers, 

 are of a clear and delicate blackish grey ; from 

 the eye to the bill, through the auricular feathers, 

 and running up on the sides of the neck, there is 



