133 
natural history 
NUTHATCH. 
The Nuthatch is somewhat less than this 
chaffinch ; the head and neck are of an ash- 
colour; the sides under the wings arc red; 
the throat and breast of a pale yellow ; the 
chin is white; and the feathers under the 
tail are red, with white tips. He feeds upon 
nuts, which he hoards up in the hollow ot a 
tree. It is pleasing to see this bird fetch a 
nut out of the hole, place it fast in a clunk, 
and, striking it with all its might, breaks 
the shell, and eats up the kernel. He feeds 
also upon flies and other small insects. 
hen is so attached to her covey, that, when 
disturbed from her nest, she flutters close 
round the head of the depredator, and hisses 
like a snake. 
