WHITE-BREASTED, BLACK-CAPPED NUTHATCH. 25 
tongue is of a horny substance, and ending in several sharp points 
the general color above is of alight blue or lead; the tail consists 
of twelve feathers, the two middle ones lead color, the next three are 
black, tipped with white for one tenth, one fourth, and half of an inch; 
the two next are also black, tipped half an inch or more with white, 
which runs nearly an inch up their exterior edges, and both have the 
white at the tips touched with black; the legs are of a purple or dirty 
flesh color; the‘hind claw is much 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 
situation in our systems, I would prefer placing them near to Certhia, Veups, 
Anabates, Dendrocolaptes, and not far distant from the Titmice ; with the former, 
they seem intimately connected, and there appears little in their structure in coin 
mon with the Woodpeckers, except the act of running up the trunks of trees. In 
habit and general economy they resemble the Titmice, always actively employed 
in turning or twisting round the branches, or in running up or down the trunks, for 
they do both with equal facility, searching after the insects, or their eggs andlarve, 
which lie concealed under the moss, or loose bark ; but occasionally also, like 
them, feeding upon different grains, on the seeds of the pine cones, as mentioned 
by our author, in his description of the red-bellied species ; or, according to Mon- 
tagu, like the S. Exropea, frequenting the orchards during the cider season, and 
picking the seeds from the refuse of the pressed pple In a state of confinement, 
_ they will thrive well upon raw meat, or fat, and if taken at a proper age, become 
extremely familiar and amusing ; if not, they will most likely destroy themselves in 
their endeavors to get free from confinement, as mentioned by the anonymous wri- 
ter of an interesting account of this bird in Loudon’s Magazine of Natural History. 
Thad lately an opportunity of observing a nest of our native species, which had 
been taken young. They became fecpnen tame; and, when released from 
their cage, would run over their owner in all directions, up or down his body and 
limbs, poking their bills into seams or holes, as if in search of food upon some old 
and rent tree, and uttering, during the time, a low and plaintive cry. When run- 
ning up or down, they rest upon the back part of the whole tarsus, and make great 
use, as a support, of what may be called the real heel, and never use the tail. 
Their bills are comparatively strong, and the power they possess of using them 
great, equal agnarently to that of a Woodpecker of like size. They breed in hol- 
Jow trees, and proauce a rather numerous brood. The male attends carefully 
during the time. According to Montagu, our British species chooses the deserted 
habitation of some Woodpecker. “ The hole is first contracted by a plaster of clay 
leaving only sufficient room for itself to pass out and in; the nest is made of dead 
leaves, chiefly those of the oak, which are heaped together without much order. 
Vf the barrier of plaster at the entrance is destroyed .when they have eggs, it is 
speedily replaced, —a peculiar instinct to prevent their nest being destroyed by 
the Woodpecker, and other birds of superior size, which build in the same manner.” 
Or, as Mr. Rennie, in his late edition of the same work, thinks probable, the wall 
may be to prevent the unfledged young from tumbling out of the nest, when they 
begin to stir about. It is probable that the Nuthatch does not look forward to any 
of these considerations ; and although the effects above mentioned may be in reality 
the consequence, I should conceive the hole contracted as being really too large, 
and as increasing the heat and apparent comfort within. When roosting, they 
sleep with the head and back downwards, in the manner of several Titmice. —Ep 
