EUROPEAN NUTHATCH. 109 



of a pale yellow; the back toe very strong, and the 

 claws large." This bird, adds Mr. Pennant, runs 

 up and down the bodies of trees, like the Wood- 

 pecker tribe; and feeds not only on insects but on 

 nuts, of which it lays up a considerable provision 

 in the hollows of trees. It is a pretty sights says 

 Mr. Willughby, to see her fetch a nut out of her 

 hoards place it fast in a chinky and then standing 

 above it with its head downzmrds, striking it with all 

 its force, breaks the shell, and catches up the kernel. 

 It breeds in the hollows of trees; if the entrance 

 to its nest be too large, it stops up part of it with 

 clay, leaving only room enough for admission: in 

 autumn it begins to make a chattering noi^se, being 

 silent for the greatest part of the year. Dr. Plott 

 tells us, that this bird, by putting its bill into a 

 crack in the bough of a tree, can make such a 

 violent sound as if it was rending asunder, so that 

 the noise may be heard at least twelve score yards." 



Plott's account of this particular is given in his 

 History of Oxfordshire as follows. " But amongst 

 the inhabitants of the air, or lowermost heaven, 

 it cannot be expected in so small a county I should 

 produce many not already noted, since the fea- 

 thered kingdom has been so lately and so carefully 

 surveyed by the learned and industrious Francis 

 Willughby, Esq. nor indeed could I meet with any. 

 omitted by him, except perhaps a little bird, some- 

 times seen, but oftener heard in the park at Wood- 

 stock; from the noise that it makes, commonly 

 called the Wood-Cracker ; described to me, (for I 

 had not the happiness to see it,) to be about the 



