NUTS. 169 



It taps lightly at first, then as though it had 

 fasted for days. Retiring an inch or so, it 

 brings down its bill with the whole force of 

 its body, and bits of the stubborn shell begin 

 to yield. Soon a hole is made, and as pieces 

 of the kernel fly off they are snatched up ere 

 they reach the ground. Again and again it 

 darts, always securing the chips, until the 

 dwindling shell yields up the kernel. Of this 

 the bird is not long in disposing. As soon as 

 it has finished, it flies off to the copse. For 

 yards around the gate are pieces of shell and 

 outer coats of beech-mast, as well as the harder 

 cases of seeds and wild fruits. Upon all these 

 the Nuthatch feeds. The little bird is as in- 

 teresting a creature as any of the denizens of 

 the hazel-copse. 



