NUTHATCH 



41 



with the inner webs of the three shortest secondaries and the pri- 

 maries of a jet black; the latter tipt with white, and the vent and 

 lower parts of the thighs of a rust color; the European therefore 

 and the present are evidently two distinct and dijSerent species. 



This bird builds its nest early in April, in the hole of a tree ; 

 in a hollow rail in the fence; and sometimes in the wooden cor- 

 nice under the eaves ; and lays five eggs of a dull white, spotted 

 with brown at the greater end. The male is extremely attentive 

 to the female while sitting, supplying her regularly with sustenance, 

 stopping frequently at the mouth of the hole, calling and offering 

 her what he has brought, in the most endearing manner. Some- 

 times he seems to stop merely to enquire how she is, and to lighten 

 the tedious moments with his soothing chatter. He seldom ram- 

 bles far from the spot, and when danger appears, regardless of his 

 own safety, he flies instantly to alarm her. When both are feed- 

 ing on the trunk of the same tree, or of adjoining ones, he is per- 

 petually calling on her ; and, from the momentary pause he makes, 

 it is plain that he feels pleased to hear her reply. 



The White-breasted Nuthatch is common almost every where 

 in the woods of North America ; and may be known at a distance 

 by the notes quank^ qiiank, frequently repeated, as he moves up- 

 ward and down, in spiral circles, around the body and larger 

 branches of the tree, probing behind the thin scaly bark of the 

 white oak, and shelling off considerable pieces of it in search after 

 spiders, ants, insects and their larvse. He rests and roosts with his 

 head downwards ; and appears to possess a degree of curiosity not 

 common to many birds; frequently descending, very silently, with- 

 in a few feet of the root of the tree where you happen to stand, 

 stopping, head downward, stretching out his neck in a horizontal 

 position, as if to reconnoitre your appearance, and after several 

 minutes of silent observation, wheeling round, he again mounts, 

 with fresh activity, piping his unisons as before. Strongly attach- 

 ed to his native forests he seldom forsakes them; and amidst the 



M 



