THE NUT-CRACKER CROW. 



301 



in large flocks, feeding upon the seeds of the pine-trees after the fashion that has gained for 

 the bird its name of Nut-cracker. This species feeds mostly upon seeds, especially those of 

 the pine, the beech, and various nuts, and it breaks the hard shells by fixing the nut or pine- 

 cone in a convenient crevice, and hammering with its beak imtil it has exposed the kernel. 

 Indeed, while engaged in tliis pursuit, its movements are almost precisely those of the com- 

 mon nuthatch. It is a rather shy and suspicious bird, keeping closely to the tops of trees, and 

 mostly being beyond the range of an ordinary shot-gun. 



It does not, however, feed wlioUy on seeds, but varies its diet with insect food, in pursuit 

 of which it ranges for a considerable distance over the country seeking the insects either 

 on the ground or on the trees — ^generally the latter. 



By means of the powerful bill and neck muscles, the Nut-cracker is able to dig out 

 the large-bodied grubs which are found deeply buried in the wood of various ti'ees, and which 

 it discovers through its quick sense of sight and hearing. 



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NtJT-CRACKER and EUROPEAN JAY.— A' ucy/raga cari/ocatactes and Perisoreus Uifaustus. 



The Nut-cracker is common in Southern Europe, and is also a visitant of the more northern 

 regions of that continent, being frequently seen in Norway, and even migrating so far north as 

 the great pine-forests of Russia, Siberia, and Kamtschatka. Sometimes the Nut-cracker 

 becomes carnivorous in its taste, after the manner of the corvidse in general, and robs sitting 

 birds of their eggs, or even seizes and eats their callow young. It is a very active bird, 

 traversing the branches with great rapidity, and being able to climb the perpendicular trunk 

 of a tree almost as well as the creepers. That it frequently puts this accomplishment in 

 practice is evident from the fact that the tips of the tail-feathers are often found to be 

 worn away, evidently by the pressure which they have exerted against the rough bark of 

 the trees. 



