The Nuthatch. 



40/ 



hues of her plumage, and this is more noticeable on the head, 

 breast, and sides of the body. 



Song. — In the spring, when the pairing season has arrived, 

 the male birds utter a few flute-like notes, of an amatory 

 character ; but they are scarcely deserving of the name of song. 

 When the hens hatch, the males cease their song until the 

 young broods are reared, and the hens are about to go to 

 nest again. After this period their voices are seldom heard, 

 and only then at distant intervals. They commence to moult 

 in July, and sometimes earlier. 



Points to be Obseeved in Judqing. — The upper plumage 

 should be a nice soft bluish grey, evenly distributed, the 

 forehead being more vivid than the back and wings ; the 

 cheeks and throat quite white ; the eye markings well defined, 

 and bright black in colour ; the breast and belly reddish 

 orange ; the pen feathers deep in hue ; and the wings and tail 

 well formed. There must be no broken, damaged, or frayed 

 feathers. Good bodily condition, cleanliness, and well-formed 

 toes and claws, are indispensable requisites. 



General Remaees. — Nuthatches thrive either in cages or 

 aviaries ; but if kept in the latter, they should only be placed 

 among birds congenial in nature, such as Tits and Creepers. 

 In cages, they must be kept singly or in pairs (male and 

 female together), and it is desirable to fix a sort of rack, 

 provided with small holes or niches, between the perch and 

 the bottom, in such a manner that nuts may be placed in it, 

 and so arranged that the birds can reach it from the perch 

 without difificulty. Two pieces of wood, so constructed as to 

 form a narrow crevice, in which to place ants' eggs, and secured 

 to the outside of the cage front, would add greatly to the 

 enjoyment of the birds, whose efforts to obtain the eggs 

 would prove highly amusing to the onlooker. Any similar 

 device would answer equally well, and could also be applied 

 to an aviary, if desired. 



Diseases and theie Teeatment.— Nuthatches are hardy 

 birds, and seldom on the sick list ; the moulting period is the 

 most trying ordeal, and the more of their natural food that 

 they get at this period the greater will be the chance of a 

 successful and speedy issue. Long-protracted moults are 

 detrimental to the health of birds of all sorts. These 

 birds die more frequently from decline than from any other 



