Nuthatch and Creeper. 281 



THE NUTHATCH, OR NUTJOBBER, 



(Sitta Europcea,) 

 AND THE CREEPER, (Certhia familiaris,) 



Is less than the chaffinch. The head, neck, and beak are 

 of an ash-colour; the sides under the wings red; the 

 throat and breast of a pale yellow ; the chin white, and 

 the feathers tinder the tail red, with white tips. The 

 Nuthatch feeds upon insects and also upon nuts, which 

 he hoards in the hollow part of a tree ; and it is pleasing 

 to see him fetch a nut out of the hole, place it first in a 

 chink, and standing above it with his head downwards, 

 striking it with all his might, break the shell, and catch 

 up the kernel. The hen is so attached to her brood, 

 that, when disturbed from her nest, she flutters about the 

 head of the depredator, and hisses like a snake. The Nut- 

 hatches are shy and solitary birds, and like the wood- 

 peckers frequent woods, and run up and down the trees 

 with surprising facility. They often move their tails in 

 the manner of the wagtail. They do not migrate, but 

 during the winter approach nearer to inhabited places, 

 and are sometimes seen in orchards and gardens. The 

 female lays her eggs in holes of trees. 



