NUTHATCH. 189 



THE well-known Nuthatch was considered for a time 

 the only example of its genus in Europe ; but another 

 species having been discovered, which is an inhabitant of 

 Dalmatia and Styria, the value of the old specific name is 

 somewhat impaired. The Nuthatch, the last of our group 

 of the true climbing birds, is an interesting species, and a 

 great favourite with many observers; it inhabits woods, 

 plantations, and parks, particularly such as contain old 

 oaks, and other large forest trees. It is resident here all 

 the year, approaching orchards and gardens in winter ; but 

 is not equally numerous in every district. This bird, by 

 means of its powerful claws for its tail-feathers are not 

 calculated to afford it any support is able to climb with 

 a short quick step over the rough bark of trees, and appa- 

 rently with equal ease in any direction ; our Woodpeckers 

 are occasionally seen to hop when climbing, but the Nut- 

 hatch creeps or runs along so smoothly that its motions 

 more resemble those of a mouse than those of a bird. 



The names of Nuthatch and Nutjobber have been given 

 to this bird from its habit of feeding on the kernels of nuts, 

 which, however thick or hard the shells may happen to be, 

 are broken with equal ease and dexterity. Sir Thomas 

 Browne says that in his time this bird was called Nut- 

 hack. The nut, or filbert, sometimes brought from a dis- 

 tance, is placed in an angular crevice in the bark of a tree, 

 and the bird having fixed it, moves round it as if to ascer- 

 tain how best it can make an impression upon it by re- 

 peated blows with the point of its strong beak, aided by 

 the whole weight of the body, which is frequently placed 

 above the nut to give greater effect to the blow, and the 

 noise made is considerable. Besides nuts, this bird feeds 

 on caterpillars, insects, berries, hard seeds, and beech-nuts 

 or mast : Bewick mentions that it is also fond of picking 

 bones. Old beech trees, from the deep longitudinal fissures 



