WHITE-BREASTED NUTHATCH. 
53 
with streaks of chestnut, those parts in the latter are pure white. 
The European has a line of black passing through the eye, half 
way down the neck; the present species has nothing of the kind; 
but appears with the inner webs of the three shortest seconda- 
ries, and the primaries, of a jet black; the latter tipt with white, 
and the vent and lower parts of the thighs of a rust colour; the 
European therefore, and the present, are evidently two distinct 
and different species. 
This bird builds its nest early in April, in the hole of a tree; 
in a hollow rail in the fence; and sometimes in the wooden cor- 
nice under the eaves; and lays five eggs, of a dull white, spotted 
with brown at the greater end. The male is extremely attentive 
to the female while sitting, supplying her regularly with suste- 
nance, stopping frequently at the mouth of the hole, calling and 
ofiering her what he has brought, in the most endearing manner. 
Sometimes he seems to stop merely to inquire how she is, and 
to lighten the tedious moments with his soothing chatter. He 
seldom rambles far from the spot, and when danger appears, 
regardless of his own safety, he flies instantly to alarm her. 
When both are feeding on the trunk of the same tree, or of 
adjoining ones, he is perpetually calling on her; and, from the 
momentary pause he makes, it is plain that he feels pleased to 
hear her reply. 
The White-breasted Nuthatch is common almost every where 
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 search 
after spiders, ants, insects and their larvae. He rests and roosts 
with his head downwards; and appears to possess a degree of 
curiosity not common to many birds; frequently descending, 
very silently, 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 ap- 
pearance; and after several minutes of silent observation, wheel- 
