23 



Most of the nuthatch nests I have found have been lo- 

 cated in holes in large chestnut trees, from twenty to fifty 

 feet from the ground and of course, entirely unsuited for 

 photographic purposes. Finallj' a pair was located breed- 

 ing in a decayed limb of an apple tree very near a farm 

 house and only about six feet from the ground. At the bot- 

 tom of the cavity, on a soft bed of grasses and feathers, 

 lay five, delicate eggs covered with reddish brown specks. 



The male was very attentive to his mate while she was 

 sitting upon her eggs and often carried tempting grubs to 

 her. Again he would slide down the limb just above her 



Fig. 18. IN AN OLD APPLE TREE. 



