The Nuthatch. 59 



markings, it may be described in general terms as half 

 leaden-blue, half buff. The blue is above, comprising 

 the crown of the head, the nape of the neck, and back ; 

 the buff below, taking in the throat, breast and belly, the 

 general tint of the under parts showing an admixture of 

 chestnut and orange. A black list runs from the base of 

 the bill over the eyes and on to the shoulder. This mark 

 has a peculiar meaning, as I shall presently show. The 

 long, strong, conical, and sharp-pointed beak is dark 

 blue above, the convex ridge of the lower mandible being 

 of a whitish horn colour. Morris, in his book of " British 

 Birds," describes the legs, toes, and claws as hrown. In 

 the specimen before me, neither the legs nor toes are of 

 this colour; instead yellowish-red, with the same slight 

 admixture of orange observable on the plumage along 

 its sides. The bird is six inches in length; but the tail 

 being short in proportion to the body allows for a 

 greater bulk than might be deduced from the measure- 

 ment. It is, in fact, about the size of a greenfinch, though 

 of quite 'a different shape, in form more resembling the 

 woodpeckers. To these it is also very similar in habits j 

 and although classed with the Gerthiadoe, or Creepers, its 

 affinity to the Picidce seems quite as close, or closer. Its 

 resemblance to the woodpeckers is noticeable in many 

 of its ways. Like them it is a true tree-borer, not only 

 delving into the bark after insects, but drilling a hole for 

 its nest. The noise it makes while engaged in this oper- 

 ation can be heard at a considerable distance, and is often 

 mistaken for the " tapping '■' of the woodpecker. A 

 somewhat similar hammering is made by it in breaking 

 open nutshells to extract the kernels ; from all of which it 

 has obtained the additional titles of "nut jobber" and 

 " wood- cracker." 



