Gbe umarbler 55 



of a number of rare birds of the Wyoming region that he has found so fertile 

 in unexpected surprises. Yet it was but the day-before-yesterday that he 

 while strenuously bending every energy toward reaching the nest of one of 

 a pair of White-throated Swifts, half-way up the wall of a forty-foot cliff of 

 sandstone, in a vertical ciack, discovered that a pair of Nuthatches were 

 busily engaged in a dead cedar that stood at the very edge of the cliff. The 

 young were apparently still quite tender ; judging by the frequency with 

 which they were fed. One parent or the other would come with a small 

 morsel of food at frequent intervals ; the feedings often coming, during the 

 short period of conversation, but four or five minutes apart at the best. And 

 the manner of the parents was greatly engaging, in this process. They 

 seemed more curious than resentful, at the presence of a man ; even when 

 that man had the hardihood to climb their favorite tree. And when they 

 would come, one or the other, with food, it was greatly amusing to watch 

 the stealth they would always display, before entering the nest cavity. With 

 a manner characteristic of many nesters in hollow places they would make 

 ready to enter ; would actually bury head and even neck in the nest hollow ; 

 and would then execute a right-about in the twinkling of an eye. This 

 might happen a dozen times, in the extreme ; before the parent would 

 finally make up its mind to enter fully. 



In most of its ways the Rocky Mountain Nuthatch seems quite unlike 

 its con-specific fellow of the Eastern States. Its notes are wholly different ; 

 and its feeding habit, during the winter, noticeably variant. One trait, how- 

 ever, it shares with all its genus ; that of curiosity. During the past winter, 

 at the edge of the Bear Lodge " Mountains " at Sundance, I found a whole 

 troop of winter sojourners and habitants, one sunny noon-tide, mobbing the 

 only Rocky Mountain Screech Owl it has ever been my good fortune to see. 

 And among the medley of Cross-bills, Chickadees and White-winged Juncos 

 there appeared one pair of Nuthatches ; discreetly joining in the outcry : 

 from the ground. And sometimes man may summon an exceptionally curi- 

 ous Nuthatch near ; by simulating the cry of the Chickadee. For these two 

 are kin; and their united animation, industry and vocal cheer make glad and 

 bright many an otherwise sombre winter day. 



