192 WHITE-BREASTED NUTHATCH. 



hind claw is mucli the largest ; the inside of the wing at the bend is 

 black ; below this is a white spot spreading over the roots of the first 

 five primaries ; the whole length is five inches and a half, extent eleven. 



Mr. Pennant considers this bird as a mere variety of the European 

 Nuthatch; but if difference in size, color and habits, be sufficient 

 characteristics of a distinct species, this bird is certainly entitled to be 

 considered as such. The head and back of the European species is of 

 a uniform bluish gray ; the upper parts of the head, neck, and shoulders 

 of ours are a deep black, glossed with green ; the breast and belly of 

 the former is a dull orange, with streaks of chestnut, those parts in the 

 latter are pure white. The European has a line of black passing 

 through the eye, half way down the neck ; the present species has 

 nothing of the kind; but appears with the inner webs of the three 

 shortest secondaries, and the primaries, of a jet black ; the latter tipped 

 with white, and the vent and lower parts of the thighs of a rust color ; 

 the European therefore, and the present, are evidently two distinct and 

 different species. 



This bird builds its nest early in April, in the hole of a tree ; in a 

 hollow rail in the fence ; and sometimes in the wooden cornice under 

 the eaves ; and lays five eggs, of a dull white, spotted with brown at the 

 greater end. The male is extremely attentive to the female while sit- 

 ting, supplying her regularly with sustenance, stopping frequently at 

 the mouth of the hole, calling and offering her what he has brought, in 

 the most endearing manner. Sometimes he seems to stop merely to in- 

 quire how she is, and to lighten the tedious moments with his soothing 

 chatter. He seldom rambles far from the spot, and when danger appears, 

 regardless of his own safety, he flies instantly to alarm her. When 

 both are feeding on the trunk of the same tree, or of adjoining ones, he 

 is perpetually calling on her ; and, from the momentary pause he makes, 

 it is plain that he feels pleased to hear her reply. 



The White-breasted Nuthatch is common almost everywhere in the 

 woods of North America ; and may be known at a distance by the notes 

 quanJc, quanh, frequently repeated, as he moves upward and down, in 

 spiral circles, around the body, and larger branches, of the tree, prob- 

 ing behind the thin scaly bark of the white-oak, and shelling off con- 

 • siderable pieces of it, in search after spiders, ants, insects and their 

 larvse. He rests and roosts with his head downwards ; and appears to 

 possess a degree of curiosity not common to many birds ; frequently 

 descending, very silently, within a few feet of the root of the tree 

 where you happen to stand, stopping, head downward, stretching out his 

 neck in a horizontal position, as if to reconnoitre your appearance ; and 

 after several minutes of silent observation, wheeling round, he again 

 mounts, with fresh activity, piping his unisons as before. Strongly 

 attached to his native forests, he seldom forsakes them ; and amidst the 



