The Rock Nuthatch and Its Nest. 3 



with it. The material is fine clay mixed with plant fibers — 

 incomparably better than ordinary adobe for strength and 

 endurance — so well packed that when dry a stiff knife blade 

 must be used to cut through the inch wall. The outer base 

 of the nest is ten or twelve inches in diameter. The hori- 

 zontal funnel-shaped entrance is protruded about three inches 

 beyond the domed face, and is, of course, just large enough 

 to admit the body of the bird. The nest is naturally as in- 

 conspicuous as the ashy-colored Nuthatch on his grey lime- 

 stone hunting ground, but he sometimes boldly adorns it 

 with trophies of the chase in the shape of bright red wings 

 of moths attached while the plaster was fresh. 



1. Red-breasted Nuthatch, Sitta canadensis. Natural size. 



2. European Nuthatch, Sitta ccesia. Natural size. 



3. Rock Nuthatch, Sitta syriaca. Natural size. 



The following description* of the common European Nut- 

 hatch and his nesting habits will serve for comparison: 



"The nest always occupies a hollow; regularly in a tree 

 cavity, exceptionally in crannies of walls or rocks. The wise 

 bird is glad to make use of the timber-fashioned dwelling of 

 the master woodpecker for his baby cradle, but does not per- 

 mit the door of his dwelling to be larger than is necessary 

 for himself; and to that end he adopts a highly ingenious 



^Translated from Brehm's Thier Leben, Vol. II., p. 559. 



