1 108 Birds. 



Nuthatch, Sitta Europcea. The bill of this genus greatly ap- 

 proaches that of the Picidae, and is very powerful ; with it the bird 

 makes a peculiar and loud tapping noise, that may be heard at some 

 distance. It is beautifully coloured in plumage, and much resembles 

 the creeper in its anisodactyle feet and claws, but the last are not so 

 long. For many years I have observed it in the woods near the city 

 of Durham, but I believe the county of Durham forms its northern 

 limit in Britain. 



Cuckoo, Cu cuius canorus. In most languages this bird has re- 

 ceived its appellation from its dissyllabic note ; thus its Greek name 

 was KOKKvii, so called because of its cry of xqkxu. But Bewick has add- 

 ed to it the provincial name of Gowk, which is evidently the same 

 as the Norwegian Gouk. In Swedish it is likewise called Gjok. I 

 have only once been so fortunate as to find a nestling cuckoo, which 

 is recorded in my Catalogue, p. 9, No. 71. In its flight it is not un- 

 like a hawk, from which circumstance, most probably has arisen the 

 vulgar error that " young cuckoos change to hawks in the winter." It 

 is harmless, and chiefly insectivorous. 



Common Wren, Troglodytes Europceus. In the winter the wren 

 becomes familiar, and quite domestic : frequenting cow-houses and 

 farm buildings. It is most obedient to the divine command of " mul- 

 tiply in the earth," for it annually brings up two numerous broods. 

 Besides being common to all parts of Europe, it is found in Asia 

 Minor. 



Creeper, Certhia familiaris. This bird differs from the Picidae 

 and Cuculidae in having three toes before and only one behind, but in 

 order to accommodate that arrangement of them to creeping and climb- 

 ing up the stems and trunks of trees, with an equal degree of ease, 

 Nature has given to it very long, curved, and sharp claws. Its bill 

 also is hooked, slender and falciform. It is prettily mottled with 

 brown, a little like the wryneck, but less darkly coloured. Its note 

 is simple and weak. 



Hoopoe, Upupa Epops. "Several have been shot in this neigh- 

 bourhood : the last in Coatham marsh." — J. G. I have noticed it as 

 being common in the spring in Sicily : its manners struck me as 

 chiefly terrestrial, L e., preferring to seek for insects on the ground : 

 something in habits between the magpie and thrush. When disturb- 

 ed by our mules approaching to it, it flew only a little way and then 

 settled again on the ground. Ovid's description of this bird is correct: 



"cui slant in vevtico cristae, 



Prominet immodicum pro longa cuspide rostrum, 

 Nomcn Epops volucri." 



