264 



HABITS OF THE NUTHATCH. 



The Nuthatch, although by no means a rare bird, is seldom seen except by those who 

 are acquainted with its haunts, on account of its shy and retiring habits. As it i'eeds 

 mostly on nuts, it is seldom seen except in woods or their immediate vicinity, although it 

 will sometimes become rather bold, and frequent gardens and orchards where nuts are grown. 

 ' Che bird also feeds upon insects, which it procures from under the bark after the manner 

 of the creepers, and it is not unlikely that many of the nuts which are eaten by the Nut- 

 hatch have been inhabited by the grub of the nut weevil. It will also feed upon the seeds 

 of different plants, especially preferring those which it pecks out of the fir-cones. Beech 

 mast also seems grateful to its palate, and it will occasionally take to eating fruit. 



In order to extract the kernel of the nut, the bird fixes the fruit securely in some con- 

 venient crevice, and, by dint of repeated hammerings with its beak, breaks a large ragged 

 hole in the shell, through which the kernel is readily extracted. The blows are not merely 

 given by the stroke of the beak, but the bird grasps firmly with its strong claws, and 

 swinging its whole body upon its feet, delivers its stroke with the full weight and sway of 

 the body. 



NUTHATCH. Sitta Europan. 



The beak, by means of which this feat is accomplished, is remarkably strong and 

 powerful, and can be used with a vigour and endurance that is quite astonishing. Many 

 instances of its powers have been narrated, among which we may mention that one of 

 these birds which had been captured in a common brick trap, and had remained in its 

 dark cell for some hours, was found when released to have been deprived of one-third of 

 its beak, which had evidently been ground away by the continual pecking which had 

 been kept up at the bricks. The person who caught the bird and who narrated the tale is 

 the Reverend Mr. Bree. Another of these birds that had been put into a cage, immediately 

 began to hammer at the wooden supports of its prison, and although severely wounded in 

 the wing, refused to cease from its exertions except to eat and drink, both of which opera- 

 tions it performed with the greatest coolness. For two days the poor bird continued to 

 peck unceasingly at his cage, and at the close of the second day, sank under its extra- 

 ordinary exertions. 



The Nuthatch is a capital climber of tree-trunks, even surpassing the creeper in the 

 agility with which it ascends and descends the perpendicular surface, clinging firmly with 

 its strong claws, and running equally well whether its head be upwards or downwards. 



