CHAPTER XXII. 



THE NUTHATCH. 



This bird is almost an entire stranger to most people. It 

 belongs to the rather large family of creepers ; birds which, 

 like the woodpecker and the little golden-crested wren, run up 

 the holes and branches of trees in search of food. The 

 nuthatch, however, has an advantage over all its other creeping 

 relatives, by being gifted with the power of coming down the 

 tree head foremost, which none of them have. It can also 

 sleep with its head downwards ; neither in its rapid ascent has 

 it occasion to press its tail against the tree for help ; so that it 

 is the most accomplished little acrobat of the whole race of 

 creepers. 



The nuthatch cannot be called a rare bird, and yet it is not 

 often seen, being of a shy and retiring disposition, though 

 naturally lively and active. The plumage is very pleasing in 

 colour ; the upper parts of the body are bluish-grey ; a black 

 line passes from the corners of the mouth to the back of the 

 neck ; the breast and under parts light reddish-yellow, and the 

 sides reddish-brown. 



It delights in woods and trees ; nor need it be looked for 

 elsewhere, as it derives its food entirely amongst them, either of 

 insects and larvee, hidden in the bark, or of fruits and nuts, as 

 kernels of fir-cones, beech, and other nuts, the shells of which it 



