THE NUTHATCH. 85 



feathers. Tts eggs in general are eight in number, and quite white. In the 

 young ones, before the feathers grow, the stubs are so long and straight that 

 they might be taken for so many little bristles. As soon as the young can 

 see clearly, and before the feathers begin to sprout, is the time to take them 

 from the nest ; they must be fed first on ants' eggs, meal worms, and other 

 worms and afterwards accustomed by degrees to meat ; they will be preserved 

 in good health for a much longer time, if care be taken always to give 

 them their food in fresh water, rather than let them pick it up from the 

 ground. 



MODE OF TAKING. When the place which one of these birds frequents 

 most, and which is generally near an eddy in the water, is well known, 

 a stake must be fixed to which the snare, called a springe, can be fastened ; 

 by this means the bird may be easily taken. Lime-twigs may also be put 

 on a bush or stake near the water's edge, provided it does not hang so 

 much over the water as to risk the bird's falling into it when fixed by the 

 lime. 



ATTRACTIVE QUAUTIES Its great attractions are its beauty, for it is not 

 well proportioned, and all its motions are sudden. 



THE NUTHATCH. 



Sitta Europaea, LINNAEUS ; La Sittele, ou le Torchepot, BUFFON ; Der Nusshacker, 

 BECHSTEIN. 



THE length of this bird is six inches and a half, of which 

 one and a half is included in the tail, and three-quarters in the 

 beak, which is strong, straight, a little flat at the tip ; the eyes 

 are greyish brown; the feet yellowish grey, the claws very 

 strong. The forehead is blue only in the male ; the rest of the 

 upper part of the body is of a blue grey ; the cheeks and throat 

 are white ; a black streak passing across the eyes extends from 

 the base of the beak to the neck ; the belly and breast are of a 

 dingy orange colour. 



HABITATION. When wild it generally frequents woods. In the winter 

 it approaches villages, and will even fly into barns and stables. 



