INSESSOBES. 117 



of the Great Tit, although much louder. Like the 

 last-named bird, its note varies at different seasons 

 ofthe year ; that which is uttered in the breeding- 

 season being very different to that which is heard at 

 other times. I believe that Nuthatches pair for life, 

 and remain in pairs throughout the year, not flock- 

 ing in winter like other birds; for I have never 

 observed the young following their parents in the 

 autumn, as is the case with some species ; from 

 which I infer that, as soon as they are out of the 

 nest, the old birds leave them to shift for them- 

 selves. 



The nest is a difficult one to find, secreted as it 

 always is in the hole of a tree. On the 10th 

 May, 1863, 1 obtained ten beautifully-marked eggs 

 of this species from an old tree at Harrow Weald. 



A few years ago this bird was comparatively com- 

 mon in the neighbourhood of Ealing, especially in 

 autumn, when it might frequently have been heard 

 and occasionally seen running up and down the 

 elm -trees, hammering at the bark, and uttering at 

 intervals its not unpleasing note. Of late years it 

 has become much more rare. Mr. Power observed 

 a particular bird of this species at Ealing, which 

 was in the habit of carrying off the acorns from an 

 evergreen oak, but what it did with them he was 

 never able to ascertain. I have seen a Nuthatch 

 constantly on a certain gate-post that had a fissure 

 in the top, in which it used to fix acorns and beech- 



