-^t.^T***^ 



36 THE BIEDS OF DEYOX. 



sitting. The Rciwing must have taken refuge in the hollow of the tree 

 and perished during the severe weather of the preceding winter. The 

 lining of moss &c. was unfortunately removed bj- the finder before bringing 

 this sinirular nest to Mr. Robert Gumming, by whom it was presented to 

 the A. M. M. 



The Blue Tit would seem to be the most carnivorous of the whole 

 family, and was observed by INrontngu to be a constant attendant in yards 

 where horse-flesh was kepi for hounds. The hen Blue Tit is a courageous 

 defender of her nest, making a liissing noise and pecking at the hand of a 

 would-be robber, thus gaining the soubriquet of " Billy Biter " from 

 birds'-nesting urchins. 



Mr. Gatcombe met with a large flight of this species, February 27th, 

 1872 (Zool. 1872, p. 3014). 



Crested Titmouse. Pams cri status, Linn. 



A casual visitor of extremely rare occurrence. Its natural habitat is in 

 the pine-forests of Scotland. It is also abundant in France and Spain, 

 from whence itmiglit wander to this county. The only recorded instance, 

 however, in which it has been observed in Devon is that mentioned by 

 Baron A. von Hiigel, near Torqnav. March 2Gth, 1874. The bird seen 

 was so tame that he almost touched it with his walking-stick (Zool. 1874, 

 p. 4065). It has never occurred in Cornwall, Dorset, nor Somerset, but 

 has been met with, equally as far south as Torquay, in the Isle of Wight. 



Family SITTID-Sl. 

 Nuthatch. Sitta cassia, Wolf. 



Resident in wooded localities throughout the county. Breeds. 



Though nowhere numerous, the Nuthatch is sufficiently distributed in 

 those portions of Devon suitable to its habits to be among our best-known 

 and most familiar birds. In North Devon we have had numerous oppor- 

 tunities of observing it. Its peculiar movements upon a tree, where it is 

 as often seen descending the trunk head downwards as progressing up- 

 wards or along a bough, its jerking and diiiping flight, its strange whistle 

 in the spring, and the sound of its hammering at a nut which it has placed 

 in some chink in the liark of a tree for the convenience of being cracked 

 ai-e all ])art and parcel of country life in our woodland districts ; and the 

 bird is sufficiently conspicuous with its blue-grey back and russet under- 

 parts to attract attention so as to be generally known. 



The Nuthatch breeds near Exeter, but it is not common near Kings- 

 bridge, where Mr. R. P. NichoUs only occasionally receives a specimen, 

 generally from the neighbourhood of East Allington. 



A melanic variety, having the lower parts dark lead-colour and the 

 rufous patch on the thigh larger than usual, was shot in Mount Radford, 



