Sitta oanadensls . 

 A Red-oroasted Kuthatcli catching insects on the wing. 



Whitefield, II. H. 



1897. This raorning I walKed up the Lancaster road throiigh the 



Atig. 27. woods for a mile and a half. As I was strolling along, at a- 

 bout 11 o'clocl;, in a spot where the woods were coniparatively 

 open, I saw, on a dead branch close by the road, a raale Ited- 

 breasted Nuthatch, and for over a half an hour I watched him 

 busily engaged in catching insects. There were two dead Tama- 

 racks, covered v/ith drooping lichens, one on either side of 

 the road, and near these were White Birches, Firs and a Large- 

 toothed Aspen. These and the road betv/een constituted the se 

 scene of action. The sun was streaming down pleasantly and I 

 stood still in the middle of the quiet country road and with 

 glass in hand reimined an interested spectator. 

 The Nuthatch preferred the Taraaracl-is for a resting-place, 

 though he often lit on the branches or trimiis of the neighbor- 

 ing trees. He v;ould sail out into the air exactly like a Fly- 

 catcher, catch the insect and often return to the same perch. 

 Sometimes he would light on another tree near the one just 

 left, and at other times he would keep on his course, cross 

 the road and light on one of the trees opposite. In this v/ay 

 he was continually passing to and fro by me over the way. 

 Occasionally I saw the insect some ten feet from me, 



