Extracts from Diary of Otto Widmann 41 



along the hedges in the fields or with other sparrows at 

 the border of forests. 



Other Sparrows, but belonging to the class of "perma- 

 nent ' ' residents, because here in winter and summer, are 

 the Cardinal and the Towhee. Like the other Ground 

 Sparrows, with which they are often associated, the 

 Towhees are great hiders, and when keeping silent, as it 

 is their habit in winter, it is not easy to get a sight of 

 them, although they may be present in the same locality 

 all winter. Even the Cardinals of striking coloration 

 and large size know how to keep out of view in the heavy 

 shrubbery, but it is a fine sight to see one of the beautiful 

 birds emerge from its seclusion and, if the sun shines 

 brightly, give you one of its cheering songs even in the 

 depth of winter. In sheltered places where corn is 

 shocked or left standing on the stalk in the field we may 

 have the good luck of coming upon a whole flock of them 

 when other food is scarce. 



On such an occasion we may discover that Nuthatches 

 don't starve when corn is to be had and we may be aston- 

 ished to see them extract the nucleus only, the sweetheart 

 of the kernel and reject the rest. Nuthatches, of which 

 we have four good species with seven subspecies in North 

 America, belong to a family which is like the nearly 

 related Creepers and Titmice of circumpolar distribu- 

 tion. In Missouri two species are of regular occurrence 

 and a third of local range in the pine region of the 

 Ozarks. Of the two commonly found around St. Louis 

 one is a permanent resident, the other a transient and 

 occasional winter visitant. The first is the White- 

 breasted or Carolina Nuthatch, the other the Red- 

 breasted or Canadian Nuthatch. Both have the same 

 habit of hopping up and down the trunks and branches of 

 trees in a manner which distinguishes them easily from 

 other birds. While other woodland birds like the Wood 

 Thrush and Pewee have learned to accommodate them- 

 selves to the new conditions connected with civilization 



