52 



ON PROCURING SPECIMENS OF THE 



mens of the male and female should be preserved, and two of the young 

 in their first plumage ; the latter varying very considerably, even in the 

 nest: individuals should be preferred illustrating the extremes of 

 variation ; a very dark and a very rufous specimen : the former, I 

 believe, are generally, if not always, males. The old female cuckoos, 

 also, are subject to much variation, the neck being more or less mottled, 

 like the young. In the adult birds of this species, the irides are very 

 rich, deep yellow ; those of the young are of a remarkably dull, insipid 

 grey. I may here remark, that the best method of obtaining artificial 

 eyes of the exact colours required, is to purchase colourless glass eyes, 

 which may be had at several of the London shops, and to colour them 

 one's self from nature. 



The nuthatch ( Sitta Europaa) should be procured about the month 

 of October, in fine dry weather, when its breast is least likely to be 

 soiled with dirt. This bird may easily be recognised by its cheerful, 

 sprightly note (resembling chwile; chivite; chwi-chrvi-chwite ; chrvite ), 

 which it sometimes utters for several minutes together, perched on the. 

 topmost twig of a tree ; or as it creeps about upon the larger branches. 

 This is rather a pugnacious species ; if two males happen to meet each 

 other in their perambulations, a contest is almost sure to ensue, which 

 is not unfrequently carried on upon the wing, twittering at each other 

 as they fly. The nuthatch is a very bold, fearless bird; even if shot 

 at, and missed, it often seems to take no notice, but continues its search 

 for insects with the most perfect nonchalance ; or it merely flies, per- 

 haps to the next branch, uttering its usual cry. 



The common mottled creeper (Certhia familiar is) is a most beautiful 

 little bird when its plumage is clean and unworn ; but, although very 

 common, it is seldom to be obtained in a fit state for preserving. It 

 should be sought for about the end of September, as soon as possible 

 after the completion of its moult ; for it very soon gets dirty, especially 

 on the breast, and it injures its tail feathers very much. This is an 

 exceedingly abundant species, though, from the retired nature of its 

 habits, it is but little noticed : if listened for, its faint tsit, tsit, is sure 

 to be heard in almost every clump of trees ; and if watched for it will 

 very soon be observed, as it flits from one tree to another, alighting 

 generally on the trunk within a few inches of the ground, and creeping 

 quietly along the outline, occasionally peeping round to take a glimpse 

 at the spectator, and as soon as it thinks itself observed disappearing 

 behind : it will often flutter down after it has ascended a few feet, and 

 again alight near the ground, ascending the same tree several times in 



