AVES—NUTHATCH. 559 
of her hoard, place it in a chink, and then, standing above it, striking it with 
ali its force till it breaks the shell and catches up the kernel. Doctor Plot 
says, that this bird, by putting its bill into the crack of a tree, can produce 
a violent sound, as if it was rending asunder, which may be heard, at least 
one hundred and twenty yards. In some countries this bird, from the 
noise which it produces in the manner above stated, is called the logger- 
head. 
WHITE-BREASTED NUTHATCH.! 
Tue white-breasted nuthatch is common almost everywhere in the woods 
of North America; and may be known ata distance by thenotes guank, quank, 
frequently repeated, as he moves up and down in spiral circles around the 
body and branches of the tree, shelling off pieces of bark in search of spi- 
ders, ants, insects, and their larve. He rests and roosts with his head 
downwards, and appears to possess a curiosity not common to birds; fre- 
quently descending very slily within a few feet of the root of a tree where 
you happen to stand, stopping head downwards, stretching out his neck in a 
horizontal position, as if to reconnoitre your appearance, and, after several 
minutes of silent observation, wheeling round, he again mounts with fresh 
activity, piping his orisonsas before. Strongly attached to his native forests, 
he seldom forsakes them, and in the rigor of the severest winter, his note is 
still heard in the bleak and leafless woods. 
This bird builds its nest in the hole of a tree, in the hollow rail of a fence, 
and sometimes in the wooden crevice under the eaves. The male is ex 
tremely attentive to the female while sitting, and supplies her regularly with 
sustenance, calling her and offering her whatever he has brought, with the 
most endearing tenderness. Sometimes he stops merely to inquire how she 
is, and to lighten the tedious moments with his soothing chatter. When 
both are feeding on the same tree, he is perpetually calling to her; and from 
the momentary pause he makes, it is evident that he feels pleased to hear 
her reply. 
There are two or three species of the nuthatch besides the above, found in 
America. 

1 Sitta Carolinensis, Witson, 
