66 LIFE-HISTORIES OF BIRDS 



the Creepers and Titmice, with both of which they 

 have been affiliated, that Dr. Elliott Coues pre- 

 ferred to give them an independent family rank. 

 They are the most active and adfoit of creepers, 

 and scramble about and hang in every conceivable 

 position, and even without the support of the tail, 

 but by the aid of tlie entire tarsus. They are 

 principally insectivorous, but readily subsist on 

 hard fruits, and receive their English appellation 

 from, their habit of fastening auts and seeds in 

 the crevices of bark and hammering with the bill 

 until broken. They are active, restless, and soci- 

 able creatures, and chiefly gregarious. 



This family contains no less than 30 species; 

 among them exists a single remarkable Madagas- 

 car form, Hypherpes ; the genus Sittella indigenous 

 to Australia, and one confined to New Zealand, 

 Acanikisitia. It is chiefly represented by Sitta, 

 which embraces from 12 to 14 species; 8 or 9 of 

 which are European, while the remainder are 

 confined to this country; one of the latter being 

 found in this latitude. 



Sitta Carolinensis, Gmelin. 



Few species display greater activity than the 

 Carolina Nuthfitch, whose habits we shall now 

 portray. From early morning until sunset, it is 

 busy gathering food. Its winding movements up 

 the trunks and along the horizontal branches of 

 trees, and the inverted suspensory position which 

 it readily assumes, ally it in habits very closely to 



