132 OF THE KINGFISHER TRIBE IN GENERAL. 



standing over it, he perforates the stubborn shell. On placing nut? 

 in the chink of a gate-post where Nut-hatches have been known to 

 haunt, it has always been found that these birds have readily penetrated 

 them. While at work they make a rapping noise, which may be heard 

 at a considerable distance. Dr. Plott informs us that this bird, by 

 putting its bill into a crack in the bough of a tree, sometimes makes a 

 loud sound, as if the branch were rending asunder. Besides nuts, it 

 feeds also on Caterpillars, Beetles and various other insects. 



The female deposits her eggs, six or seven in number, in some he 10 

 cf a tree, frequently in one that has been deserted by the Woodpecker, 

 or rotten wood mixed with moss. If the entrance be too large, she 

 nicely stops up part of it with clay, leaving only a small hole for herself 

 to pass in and out. While the hen is sitting, if a stick be put into the 

 hole she hisses like a snake ; and she is so much attached to her eggs, 

 that she will sooner suffer any one to pluck off the feathers than fly 

 away. During the time of incubation, she is assiduously attended by the 

 male who supplies her with food. If the barrier of plaster at the entrance 

 of the hole be destroyed whilst these birds have eggs, it is speedily 

 replaced ; this is a peculiar instinct, to prevent the nest from being 

 destroved by Woodpeckers and other birds of superior size and 

 strength, which build in similar situations. 



The Nut-hatch is supposed not to sleep perched (like most other 

 birds) on a twig ; for it has been observed, that when kept in a cage, 

 notwithstanding it would perch now and then, yet at night it generally 

 crept into some hole or corner to sleep : and it is remarkable that when 

 perched, or otherwise at rest, it had mostly the head downward, or at 

 least even with the body, and not elevated like other birds. 



These are shy and solitary birds. Like the Woodpeckers they 

 frequent woods, and run up and down the trees with surprising 

 facility. They often move their tail in the manner of the Wagtail. 

 They do not migrate ; but, during the winter, they approach nearer to 

 inhabited places, and are sometimes seen in orchards and gardens. 



OF THE KINGFISHER TRIBE IN GENERAL. 



THE bill is sharp, triangular, long, straight and thick. The tongue 

 is fleshy, short, flat and sharp. 

 The feet, except in a few species, 

 are formed for climbing, with 

 the toes two backward and two 

 forward. 



These birds frequent the banks 

 of rivers ; living principally on 

 fish, which they catch with great 

 dexterity. They swallow their 

 prey whole but afterwards throw 

 up the indigestible parts. Their 

 wings are short ; yet they fly very 



