The Common Nuthatch is 
also very plentiful in England, 
Although by no means a rare 
bird, it is seldom seen except 
by those who are acquainted 
with its haunts, on account 
of its shy and retiring habits. 
As it feeds mostly on nuts, it 
is seldom seen except in 
woods or their immediate 
vicinity, although it will 
sometimes become rather bold 
and frequent gardens and 
orchards where nuts are 
grown. The bird also feeds 
upon insects, which it pro- 
cures, from under the bark 
after the manner of the 
NUTHATCH — Sitta Jburopcea . 
creepers, and it is not unlikely that many of the nuts which arc eaten by the 
Nuthatch have been inhabited by the grub of the nut weevil. It will also feed 
upon the seeds of different plants, especially preferring those which it pecks out 
of the fur-cones. Beech mast also seems grateful to its palate, and it will occasion- 
ally take to eating fruit. 
In order to extract the kernel of the nut, the bird fixes the fruit securely in 
some convenient crevice, and, by dint of repeated hammerings with its beak, 
breaks a large ragged hole in the shell, through which the kernel is readily 
extracted. The blows are not merely given by the stroke of the beak, but the 
bird grasps firmly with its strong claws, and swinging its whole body upon its 
feet delivers its stroke with the full weight and sw r ay of the body. 
The Nuthatch is a capital climber of tree-trunks, even surpassing the creeper in 
the agility with which it ascends and descends the perpendicular surface, clinging 
firmly with its strong claws, and running equally well whether head upwards or 
downwards. Even the creeper does not attempt to run down a tree with its head 
towards the ground. It is a very hardy bird, contriving to pick up. an abundant 
supply of food even in the depths of winter, always appearing plump and lively. 
The colour of the Nuthatch is delicate bluish-grey, the throat is white, the 
under parts are reddish-brown, warming into rich chestnut on the flanks. Erom 
the angle of the mouth a narrow black band passes towards the back of the neck, 
enveloping the eye in its course, and terminating suddenly before it reaches the 
shoulders. 
