Birds. 



1073 



On the two British Species or Varieties of the Nutcracker. In a paper lately read 

 before the Institute of Belgium, a belief was expressed by the author, M. de Selys 

 Longchamps, that the nutcracker of Central Europe is a distinct species from that 

 which is found in Scandinavia. 

 This opinion was founded on the 

 examination of a number of these 

 birds, many of which migrated 

 during the last autumn into Bel- 

 gium. The chief distinction ap- 

 pears to be in the greater thickness 

 and strength of the bill of the 

 northern bird ; and as both varie- 

 ties have been killed in this coun- 

 try, the subject becomes of consi- 

 siderable interest to the -British 

 ornithologist. Mr. Gurney's nut- 

 cracker, killed near Yarmouth in 

 October last, which probably was 

 one of the same flock that appear- 

 ed in Belgium, and which I have 

 figured in the margin, is a very 

 characteristic specimen of the 

 thin-billed variety, and I have 

 accordingly also annexed a draw- 

 ing of its beak,* and that of an 

 example of the other variety in 

 the possession of Mr. Yarrell, by 

 which the difference will be im- 

 mediately seen. The much great- 

 er length of the upper mandible 

 in this bird, also immediately dis- 

 tinguishes it from Nucifraga brachyrhynchus, and that not only in appearance, for 

 whatever may be the use made of its more powerful beak by the latter bird, the thin 

 flat point of the beak of N. caryocatactes is evidently incapable of performing the ac- 

 tion from which the species has derived its name. A nutcracker in the gardens of the 

 Zoological Society, an example of the thin-billed variety, is, as I am informed by Mr. 

 Yarrell, fed upon hemp-seed, and though very fond of the kernels of nuts, it never at- 

 tempts to obtain them by breaking the shells for itself. The contents of the stomach 

 of Mr. Gurney's bird mentioned Zool. 824, also show that the general nature of the 

 food of this variety of the nutcracker consists of insects ; and if it should eventually be 

 shown to be distinct from N. brachyrhynchus, it is to be hoped that it will receive a 

 more appropriate name. Temminck's description of the genus Nucifragaf corresponds 



a. Nucifraga caryocatactes. b. Beak of the same, 



c. Beak of N. brachyrhynchus. 



* By some mistake the figure of the beak of this bird (Zool. 824), was stated to be 

 one half of the natural size ; it was intended to be two-thirds. 



j [Temminck's description is as follows : — " Casse-noix, Nucifraga (Bris.) Bee 

 en corne long, droit, effile a la pointe ; mandibule superieure arrondie, sans arete sail- 



