WHITE-BREASTED NUTHATCH. 53 



with streaks of chestnut, those parts in the latter are pure white. 

 The European has a line of black passing through the eye, half 

 way down the neck; the present species has nothing of the kind; 

 but appears with the inner webs of the three shortest seconda- 

 ries, and the primaries, of a jet black; the latter tiptwith white, 

 and the vent and lower parts of the thighs of a rust colour; the 

 European therefore, and the present, are evidently two distinct 

 and different species. 



This bird builds its nest early in April, in the hole of a tree; 

 in a hollow rail in the fence; and sometimes in the wooden cor- 

 nice under the eaves; and lays five eggs, of a dull white, spotted 

 with brown at the greater end. The male is extremely attentive 

 to the female while sitting, supplying her regularly with suste- 

 nance, stopping frequently at the mouth of the hole, calling and 

 offering her what he has brought, in the most endearing manner. 

 Sometimes he seems to stop merely to inquire how she is, and 

 to lighten the tedious moments with his soothing chatter. He 

 seldom rambles far from the spot, and when danger appears, 

 regardless of his own safety, he flies instantly to alarm her. 

 When both are feeding on the trunk of the same tree, or of 

 adjoining ones, he is perpetually calling on her; and, from the 

 momentary pause he makes, it is plain that he feels pleased to 

 hear her reply. 



The White-breasted Nuthatch is common almost every where 

 in the woods of North America; and may be known at a distance 

 by the notes quank, quank, frequently repeated, as he moves 

 upward and down, in spiral circles, around the body, and larger 

 branches, of the tree, probing behind the thin scaly bark of the 

 white oak, and shelling off considerable pieces of it, in search 

 after spiders, ants, insects and their larvae. He rests and roosts 

 with his head downwards; and appears to possess a degree of 

 curiosity not common to many birds; frequently descending, 

 very silently, within a few feet of the root of the tree where 

 you happen to stand, stopping, head downward, stretching out 

 his neck in a horizontal position, as if to reconnoitre your ap- 

 pearance; and after several minutes of silent observation, wheel- 



