52 





NUTCRACKER. 



Nucifraga caryocatactes, SKLUY. JENYNS. 



Caryocatactes nucifraga, FLEMING. 



Corvus caryocatactes, PENNANT. MONTAGU. 



Nucifraga. Nux, (plural ?mce*,) A rmt. Frango To break. 



Caryocatactes. Karioii A nut. Katasso, (tlie same as 



katagnumi and kataguuo,*) To break in pieces. 



THE Nutcracker is dispersed throughout Europe, Asia, and 

 America. The mountain forests of Switzerland are its strong- 

 hold: it is found also in Austria, France, Italy, Denmark, 

 Sweden, Russia, Siberia, and Kamtschatka; the north of Asia, 

 and North America. 



In this country it is of rare occurrence. On October 5th., 

 1753, one was killed near Mostyn, in Flintshire; another was 

 afterwards killed in Kent. One was seen near Bridgewater, 

 in the autumn of 1805; in August, 1808, one was shot in 

 North Devon; another was seen on a tree on the banks of 

 Hooe Lake; another was shot in the same county, in 1829, 

 near Washford Pyne Moor, and another in December of the 

 same year, in the adjoining county of Cornwall. A specimen 

 was seen in Netherwitton wood, Northumberland, in the 

 autumn of 1819, by Captain (now Rear-Admiral) Robert 

 Mitford, R.N. In Surrey, one was seen in Pepper Harrow 

 Park, the seat of Lord Middleton; in Norfolk, one was shot 

 at Rollesby, near Yarmouth, on the 30th. of October, 1843. 

 In Sussex, one at Littlington, near Alfriston, on the 26th. 

 of September, 1833. 



In Scotland three have occurred. In Ireland, Mr. Thompson 

 relates that one was said to have been met with at Silver- 

 mines, in the county of Tipperary, but that there was no 

 authentication of the account. 



Mountainous countries, covered with fir woods, are the 

 natural resort of this species. 



