XLIX. 

 SITTA EUROlMilA. (linn.) 



Nuthatch. 



The Nuthatch breeds like the Woodpeckers — in holes of 

 trees, the entrance to which is most admirably protected and 

 contracted by a plaster of clay till it is just sufficiently large 

 to admit the ingress of the bird ; this it defends against its 

 enemies with the greatest courage, making a hissing noise 

 like the Blue Titmouse when attacked. The nest consists of 

 a few dry leaves, with sometimes a little grass ; its eggs are 

 from five to seven in number, and, as seen at Figure 2 of the 

 plate, generally so closely resembling those of the Greater 

 Titmouse that it is exceedingly difficult, if not sometimes im- 

 possible, to distinguish them. Figure 1 is a variety seldom 

 met with. 



CERTHIA FAMILIARIS. (linn.) 



Creeper. 



The eggs of the Creeper resemble almost as closely those of 

 the Blue and Marsh Titmouse, particularly the latter, as the 

 eggs of the Nuthatch do those of the Greater Titmouse; they are, 

 however, usually rather longer in proportion to their breadth, 

 and have the spots more concentrated at the larger end. Of 

 these. Figure 3 is a representation. There are other varieties 

 which diffigr in shape as well as in the arrangement of the spots, 

 being rounder and freckled all over; if mixed with eggs of the 

 Titmice, and even with some of those of the Willow Wren, 

 it would be very uncertain work to attempt to separate them. 

 The Creeper builds in holes of trees, in sucii places as those 



