170 THE NUTHATCH. 



November, 1839, I went after a pair of the Greater Spotted 

 Woodpeckers, and a pair of Nuthatches, in Ganendon Park, near 

 Leicester, the weather being mild, but gloomy, and the wind 

 south. It was not without difficulty that I found the Nuthatches, 

 which invariably feed where the trees are most protected from 

 the wind. Thus, when the south or forest wind is playing upon 

 the park, the Nuthatches are to be found amongst the large oaks 

 and elms on the north side of it ; and when a north-easter is 

 blowing, these birds are found feeding on the beeches, chestnuts, 

 and pines, which grow on the south side. I know of no birds 

 whose habits and manners are so operated upon by the movements 

 of the wind. Whether this arises from their being so much ex- 

 posed to the weather, in consequence of their being almost con- 

 stantly on the bark of trees at all seasons of the year, I cannot 

 say. The Nuthatch searches the bark like the Creeper, but with- 

 out deriving aid from its tail, and is able to descend with as much 

 case as it climbs. You see it now ascending spirally the bole of 

 an oak, then creeping horizontally along an arm, now above, now 

 beneath, and again hanging like a Tit, as it gains the thickened 

 foliage, to examine every crevice of the bark, and the young buds. 

 It proceeds by short leaps, jerks, or notches, and during its pro- 

 gress droops its wings somewhat after the manner of the Hedge 

 Sparrow. At this season (November) it generally keeps towards 

 the middle and topmost branches of the trees it inhabits ; but as 

 the spring advances, it not only feeds lower down on the bark, but 

 may then be observed occasionally betaking itself to the ground. 

 The note in spring is quite different, having in the vernal months 

 a soft flute-like sound, which it gets in February, but somewhat 

 earlier or later, according to the nature of the season. The flight 

 of the Nuthatch is very short, and, in fact, is only made from one 

 tree to another, or from branch to branch. When the bird is 

 flying, it moves its wings very rapidly, and during these short 

 flights, its course is not undulating. In its mode of flying it bears 

 a great resemblance to the Wren." 



According to MONTAGUE, this bird " chooses the deserted habi- 

 tation of a Woodpecker in some tree for the place of its nidifica- 

 tion. This hole is first contracted by a plaster of clay, leaving 

 only sufficient room for itself to pass in and out. The nest is 

 made of dead leaves, most times that of the oak, which are heaped 

 together without much order. The eggs are six or seven in num- 

 ber, white, spotted with rust colour, so exactly like those of the 

 Great Titmouse in size and markings, that it is impossible to dis- 

 tinguish a difference. If the barrier of plaster at the entrance is 

 destroyed when they have eggs, it is speedily replaced ; apecu- 

 liar instinct to prevent their nest being destroyed by the Wood- 



