NUTHATCH. 15 



liar call of the Nuthatch readily makes his presence known at 

 all times, it sounds like quit, quit, quit, quit, and is in- 

 cessantly and loudly repeated while he is traversing a tree 

 in all possible directions, and proves the restless activity of 

 this busy-body. The apparent business of the Nuthatch, 

 during the day time lies in some old and lofty oak or beech 

 tree, "where he may be seen running rapidly about, either up 

 or down the trunk or branches, even to the very top ; and at 

 night he takes up his abode in some hole, or in the hollow crown 

 of an old pollard ; but he is not often seen on the ground, 

 unless it is under some old favourite tree in search of food. 



The general appearance of the Nuthatch is very neat, as 

 he is very careful to keep his feathers clean and in good con- 

 dition ; and when he is either perched, or busied in his 

 usual occupation, he holds his head and back straight out 

 in a line with his beak, his legs are then necessarily much 

 bent at the knees, and his feet drawn up close to his body. 

 The Nuthatch surpasses all other birds in running up and 

 down the stems of trees, and he never balances himself by 

 the aid of his tail as the woodpeckers do, but carefully avoids 

 ruffling it, and is therefore obliged to rely entirely upon the 

 support derived from his long feet and sharp claws. The 

 present species is not shy, and may frequently be observed 

 very closely in the spring of the year sitting on a branch of a 

 tree calling to its mate. Its flight is quick, and owing to the 

 alternate contraction and extension of the wings, is carried on 

 in undulating lines whenever the bird flies to a distance, but 

 in his flight from tree to tree only it is performed in straight 

 lines with flapping wings. 



The Nuthatch may be easily tamed, as he will generally 

 take food without reluctance, and in a cage made entirely of 

 wire he is very amusing, but if the cage is of wood he will 

 invariably damage it by his incessant hammering. When 

 introduced into an aviary he soon shows that he is likely to. 



