WHITE-BREASTED, BLA CK- CAPPED NUTHA TCH. 3 y 



several sharp points; the general colour above is of a light 

 blue or lead ; the tail consists of twelve feathers, the two 

 middle ones lead colour, the next three are black, tipt with 

 white for one-tenth, one-fourth, and half of an inch ; the two 

 next are also black, tipt half an inch or more with white, 

 which runs nearly an inch up their exterior edges, and both 

 have the white at the tips touched with black ; the legs are 

 of a purple or dirty flesh colour ; the hind claw is much the 

 largest ; the inside of- the wing at the bend is black ; below 

 this is a white spot spreading over the roots of the first five 

 primaries; the whole length is five inches and a half; extent, 

 eleven. 



Mr Pennant considers this bird as a mere variety of the 

 European nuthatch; but if difference in size, colour, and 

 habits, be sufficient characteristics of a distinct species, this 

 bird is certainly entitled to be considered as such. The head 

 and back of the European species is of a uniform bluish gray ; 

 the upper parts of the head, neck, and shoulders of ours, are 

 a deep black glossed with green ; the breast and belly of the 

 former is a dull orange, with streaks of chestnut ; those parts 

 in the latter are pure white. The European has a line of 



bellied species ; or, according to Montagu, like the S. Europea frequent- 

 ing the orchards during the cider season, and picking the seeds from the 

 refuse of the pressed apples. In a state of confinement they will thrive 

 well upon raw meat or fat, and if taken at a proper age, become ex- 

 tremely familiar and amusing ; if not, they will most likely destroy them- 

 selves in their endeavours to get free from confinement, as mentioned 

 by the anonymous writer of an interesting account of this bird in 

 Loudon's " Magazine of Natural History." I had lately an opportunity 

 of observing a nest of our native species which had been taken young. 

 They became remarkably tame ; and, when released from their cage, 

 would run over their owner in all directions, up or down his body and 

 limbs, poking their bills into seams or holes, as if in search of food upon 

 some old and rent tree, and uttering, during the time, a low and plain- 

 tive cry. When running up or down, they rest upon the back part of 

 the whole tarsus, and make great use as a support of what may be called 

 the real heel, and never use the tail. Their bills are comparatively 

 strong, and the power they possess of using them great, equal apparently 

 to that of a woodpecker of like size. They breed in hollow trees, and 



