64 The Naturalist in Siluria. 



unlike that produced by the Nuthatch, and nearer to the 

 " skirr " of a rattlesnake. 



The ordinary note of the Nuthatch bears resemblance 

 to the twittering of swallows, but fuller in tone and 

 louder. What may be called its song, however, is a sort 

 of piping strain, rather sweet, but peculiar for the voice 

 of a bird, and bearing resemblance to the sounds pro- 

 duced by the little water-whistles known as " nightin- 

 gales." 



THE NUTHATCH. 



In one of his letters, bearing date April 18, the 

 naturalist of Selborne says : — " Now is the only time to 

 ascertain the short-winged summer birds ; for when the 

 leaf is out there is no making any remarks on such a rest- 

 less tribe ; and when once the young begin to appear it is 

 all confusion — there is no distinction of genus, species, or 

 sex." Taken literally, the above might lead to erroneous 

 inferences; but the meaning is, of course, clear, Mr. White 

 intending to point out the great difficulty encountered in 

 the observation of birds, and their habits, during the 

 time of year when the trees are in full leaf. He seems to 

 refer only to the birds which are our summer visitants ; 

 but his remarks will equally apply to many of the species 

 permanently resident ; such as during the winter are shy 

 and keep far afield, so giving less opportunity for observ- 

 ing them. Among these may be mentioned the Nuthatch 

 (Sitta Europcea), which in early spring more frequently 

 enters the orchard to forage after the flower buds of plum, 

 cherry, and other stone-fruit trees. Less shy at this sea- 



