244 BIRDS OF SOMERSETSHIRE. 



white tip ; the white colour occupies more space in 

 each feather approaching the outside, increasing to 

 a space of three-quarters of an inch at the ends of 

 those most external; the under tail-coverts and 

 under-surface of the tail-feathers greyish brown, the 

 latter ending in dull white ; tail in form nearly 

 square at the end ; legs, toes and claws black." As 

 I have not a Nutcracker in my collection, and I do 

 not think I am likely to get one, I have taken the 

 above description from Yarrell. In size this bird 

 nearly equals the Jay : from the stuffed specimens I 

 have seen I should say it was rather smaller, but 

 Yarrell gives the dimensions as nearly the same, the 

 length of both being thirteen inches and three- 

 quarters. 



This bird concludes the Corvidse, as well as the 

 rather large division of the Insessores, or perching 

 birds, called Conirostres. It is one of the most in- 

 teresting of the various divisions of this large order, 

 as it is the one most intimately connected with man, 

 and from the number of individuals in some of the 

 species, as well as from their propensities, the one 

 which may be supposed to do him most good or 

 harm : I have therefore been as minute and particular 

 as I can in my notes of the food of the various 

 species. I think if an} 7 one examines the various lists 

 of food I have given, he will find that neither the 

 farmer nor the gardener is likely to gain much by a 



