THE NUTHATCH— THE BUSTARD. 205 



The Bustard, ( a7 )huge Rasor, with gular pouch long, 

 With legs formed for running and beak that is strong, 



West Indies, a few of the Cape, and one of Europe ; tin's last is 

 denominated — 



The Europaa, Nuthatch, Nutjobber, or fVoodcracker, is 

 about the size of a sparrow; in length nearly six inches; it is 

 cinereous, beneath reddish ; tail feathers black ; the four lateral 

 ones beneath tipt with white j bill three quarters of an inch 

 long ; another variety less in size. It is common in some dis- 

 tricts of this country, remaining all the year; it is said, not 

 seen in Cornwall nor very far north. It creeps up and down 

 the trunks of trees, and builds in their hollows. If (he entrance 

 of the hole be too large, it artfully fills it up with clay till it 

 admits only its own body. Eggs six or seven, white, spotted 

 with rust colour, and are exactly like those of the great titmouse. 

 The nest is used as a magazine for winter provisions, and a re= 

 treat during the night. Their usual food is nuts, the shells of 

 which they break with their bills ; in defect of such food they 

 eat insects and their larvce. The notes of this bird are various; 

 in the spring it has a loud shrill whistle ; in the autumn a double 

 reiterated cry ; it is also said to sing in the night. 



There is a beautiful poem called the Filbert, written, I be- 

 lieve, by South ey, and printed in the first volume of the 

 Annual Anthology, 1799, in which allusion is made to this bird : 



" Enough of dangers and of enemies 

 Hath nature's wisdom for the worm ordained; 

 Him may the Nuthatch, piercing with strong bill ? 

 Unwittingly destroy, or to his hoard 

 The squirrel bear, at leisure to be crack'd." 



( 27 ) Order, Galling, (Lath.) Bustard, the Great, the 

 Little, the Thick-kneed. 



The genus Otis, (Linn,) or Bustard, consists of seventeen 

 species, natives of Europe, Asia, and Africa. The characteris- 



