The Nuthatch. 37 



bird darts after it, and, catching the treasure in its 

 beak before the ground is reached, again flies up and 

 fixes it in the chink ; and this time the kernel is soon 

 extracted, and devoured with much relish. From the 

 habit of cracking nuts the Nuthatch has derived this, 

 its most usual name, for " hatch " like " hatchet " has 

 sprung from the French hacher " to chop." 



FIG. 10. 



Foot of Creeper. 

 From nature. Natural size. 



FIG. 11. 



Foot of Nuthatch, showing "pad" at hase of hind toe. 

 From nature. Natural size. 



In England this interesting little bird is tolerably 

 numerous all the year round, but in Scotland it is a 

 rare visitor, while in Ireland it has not yet been 

 observed. The Nuthatch may always be distinguished 

 from other members of the order Scansores, or 

 climbers, by its square, compact form and its plumage. 

 The effect of its general colouring is delicate and 



