CLass IT. NUTHATCH. 337 



straight, about three quarters of an inch long ; 

 the upper mandible black, the lower white ; 

 the irides hazel ; the crown of the head, back, 

 and coverts of the wings are of a fine bluish 

 grey ; a black stroke passes over the eye from 

 the mouth : the cheeks and chin are white ; 

 the breast and belly of a dull orange color; 

 the quil feathers dusky ; the wings underneath 

 are marked with two spots, one white at the 

 root of the exterior quils, the other black at 

 the joint of the bastard wing. The tail consists 

 of twelve feathers ; the two middle are grey ; 

 the two exterior feathers tipt with grey, then 

 succeeds a transverse white spot ; beneath that 

 the rest is black. The legs are of a pale yellow ; 

 the back toe very strong, and the claws large. 



This bird runs up and down the bodies of Manners. 

 trees, like the woodpecker tribe, and feeds not 

 only on insects, but nuts, of which it lays up 

 a considerable provision in the hollows of 

 trees. It is a pretty sight, says Mr. Willughby, 

 to see her fetch a nut out of her hoard, place it 

 fast in a chink, and then standing above it 

 with its head downwards, striking it with all 

 its force, break the shell, and catch up the ker- 

 nel. It breeds in the hollows of trees ; # if the 



* The eggs, generally six or seven in number, are of a dirty 

 ■white color, blotched with rufous or sanguineous. J. L. 

 VOL. I. Z 



