128 
for its place of nidification. This hole 
the bird is at particular pains to render 
more convenient and secure; for if larger 
at the entrance than is necessary for its 
own admission, it artfully contracts it by 
a plaster of clay, leaving only just sufficient 
room for its ingress and egress; a circum- 
stance from which the French have called 
them torche pots. The abode of the 
Nuthatch, when thus constructed, has 
hardly any appearance of being the re- 
ceptacle of birds, to those who view it 
from without. There, however, upon a 
layer of the dust of the wood and dead 
leaves, she deposits six or seven eggs, 
white, spotted with rust-colour, so similar 
to those of the greater titmouse, that it is 
almost impossible to distinguish the dif- 
ference, and so affectionately tenacious is 
this bird of her nest, that no persecution 
will force her from the habitation when 
sitting:; she will defend herself to the last 
extremity, striking at the invader with all 
her strength, making at the same time a 
hissing noise, and after every effort of 
defence has been tried in vain, will suffer 
