268 
OUR HOME BIRDS. 
they remain suspended with the back downward or 
outward/ 
“ The white-breasted nuthatch is about the same size, 
measuring five inches and a half; and its general color 
is a light blue or lead, the tail being of lead-color, 
black and white mixed. The name ‘ nuthatch ’ has 
been bestowed on this family of birds from their sup- 
posed practice of breaking nuts by repeated hatch- 
ings or hammerings with their bills. It is also said 
that they are accustomed to lay up a large store of 
nuts for the winter. 
“ ‘ The white-breasted nuthatch is common almost 
everywhere in the woods of North America, and may 
be known at a distance by the notes “ quank ! quank !” 
frequently repeated as he moves upward 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 his search after spiders, ants, insects, and their 
larvse. He rests and roosts with his head downward, 
and appears to possess a degree of curiosity not com- 
mon to many birds, frequently descending very si- 
lently within 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 
