Its Favourite Food. 121 



breaks in a very ingenious manner, as I shall presently describe. 

 Now and then it alights on the ground, and then advances by 

 short leaps. It has no song ; but in winter, when living in small 

 companies, perhaps the whole summer-family associating to- 

 gether, it has a little piping note, which, however, is supposed 

 to be simply the call to each other. It is said to be sensitive to 

 the cold, and always feeds on the side of the wood or of the tree 

 which is defended from the wind. In spring, however, when all 

 nature is renovated with a quicker pulse of life — for, as Tenny- 

 son says : — 



In the spring a fuller crimson comes upon the robin's breast ; 

 In the spring the wanton lapwing gets himself another crest ; 

 In the spring a livelier iris changes on the burnished dove — 



then, also, the silent nuthatch sends forth through the awakening 

 solitude of the woods his two little notes, one short and 

 twittering, the other a low, mellow, flute-like whistle, which is 

 so clear that it may be heard to a considerable distance. 



The graphic author of the " British Birds " says, " It is, at 

 all times, a busy and cheerful bird, particularly at nesting- 

 time. Its favourite food is nuts of any kind. It builds and 

 roosts in hollow trees, and is seldom seen in the open fields, 

 unless when in quest of the stones of the white-thorn or sloe. 

 It may, therefore, be properly called a forester. Its dexterity 

 in opening nuts and the stones of fruit is curious. It fixes the 

 nut in a crack, on the top of a post, or in the bark of a tree, and, 

 placing itself above it, head downwards, striking with great 

 force and rapidity, with its strong, wedge-shaped bill on the 

 edge of the shell, splits it open. When their food is plentiful, 



17 



