14 CERTHIAD.E. 



WSESSORES. CERTHIA DM . 



SCAN SORES. 



PLATE CXXXVIII. 



NUTHATCH. 



SlTTA EUROP^EA. (Ll?in.) 



The Nuthatch of our isles is the only species known 

 in Europe, and is met with from Norway to the Mediter- 

 ranean, and also in the northern parts of Asia, and is most 

 plentifully distributed over the central districts of Europe, 

 wherever there are forest trees. Here he remains during the 

 summer months, but in winter he quits the neighbourhood of 

 the woods, and, driven by hunger from an unproductive 

 locality, is generally to be found in orchards and gardens at 

 that season of the year. It should appear also, that neither 

 the severity of winter nor the great heat of southern climes 

 seem to agree with the Nuthatch, as he prefers a more tem- 

 perate climate. The Nuthatch is not sociably inclined, his 

 only society being that of his mate or his young brood. He 

 is never seen in the company of his species, and more than 

 two of them are rarely found in a tree. During winter, and 

 at the time of migration, these birds are to be met with in 

 company of titmice of all descriptions, but in a flock of those 

 birds it is very unusual to see more than two or three Nut- 

 hatches. As soon as the pairing time returns these birds 

 separate, and each proceeds to his given task of love-making 

 in his own way and manner, and at that period no more than 

 two are to be found in any spot. The continual and pecu- 



