EUROPEAN NUTHATCH. 109 



of a pale yellow; the back toe very strong, and the 

 claws large." " This bird, adds Mr. lYnnnnt, runs 

 up and down the bodies of trees, like the \\ nod- 

 pecker tribe; and feeds not only on insects but on 

 nuts, of which it lays up a considerable provision 

 in the hollows of trees. It is a pretty tight, says 

 Mr. Willughby, to see her fetch a nut out of her 

 hoard, place it fast in a chink, and then standing 

 above it with its head downwards, striking it with all 

 its force, breaks the shell, and catches up the kernel. 

 It breeds in the hollows of trees; if the entrance 

 to its nest be too large, it stops up part of it with 

 clay, leaving only room enough for admission: in 

 autumn it begins to make a chattering noise, being 

 silent for the greatest part of the year. Dr. Plott 

 tells us, that this bird, by putting its bill into a 

 crack in the bough of a tree, can make such a 

 violent sound as if it was rending asunder, so that 

 the noise may be heard at least twelve score yards. " 

 Plott's account of this particular is given in his 

 History of Oxfordshire as follows. " But amongst 

 the inhabitants of the air, or lowermost heaven, 

 it cannot be expected in so small a county I should 

 produce many not already noted, since the fea- 

 thered kingdom has been so lately arid so carefully 

 surveyed by the learned and industrious Francis 

 Willughby, Esq. nor indeed could I meet with any 

 omitted by him, except perhaps a little bird, some- 

 times seen, but oftener heard in the park at Wood- 

 stock; from the noise that it makes, commonly 

 called the Wood-Cracker; described to me, (for I 

 had not the happiness to see it,) to be about the 



