THE NUTHATCH 165 



Family SITTIDsE. 



THE NUTHATCH. 



Sitta ccesia, WOLF. 



THE British race is found on the Continent northward as far as Jutland ; it 

 is generally distributed from the Baltic southwards to the Mediterranean 

 and Black Seas, and is said to occur in Algeria and Morocco ; eastwards its range 

 is uncertain. 



In England it is pretty generally distributed, being common in well-wooded 

 districts of the southern and central counties, but in the northern counties it is 

 much rarer and more local ; in Scotland it has occurred three or four times, but 

 in Ireland it appears to be unknown. 



The male Nuthatch, when adult, has the upper parts slate-grey, the flights 

 smoky-brown, with greyer margins ; two central tail feathers slate-grey, remaining 

 feathers with the basal three-fourths black, then crossed by a white bar, beyond 

 which they are grey : a black stripe from base of upper mandible, through the 

 eye, to the side of the neck separating the grey of the crown and nape from the 

 buffish-white cheeks, ear-coverts, chin, and front of throat ; remainder of under 

 surface buff, streaked and shaded with deep chestnut on the flanks and sides of 

 under tail-coverts, the centre of the latter being whitish ; bill leaden-grey, the 

 lower mandible paler, but especially at the base ; feet brown ; iris hazel. 



The female is a little duller than the male, the chestnut on the flanks being 

 less pronounced ; the young are still duller, and paler on the flanks. 



Restless, indefatigable, quick in its actions, the Nuthatch may be seen running 

 upwards or downwards like a mouse over the rugged trunks of lofty trees, frequently 

 travelling in jerky zigzag fashion, searching in every crack and cranny for insect 

 food ; yet, unlike orthodox good children, the Nuthatch is much more frequently 

 heard than seen, for it is of a very modest and retiring disposition. 



Stevenson observes respecting this species : " much amusement has been 

 afforded me, after discovering their haunts, by placing nuts, or their kernels only, 

 in such situations as would enable me to watch the actions of these birds. In 

 confinement the young become very tame, and from their activity and quaintness 

 in every movement are most engaging pets, but sadly destructive to any woodwork 



