126 
BRITISH BIRDS. 
lour ; the claws are long, lharp, and much hook- 
ed, which enable it to run with great facility on all 
Tides of fmali branches of trees in quell of infects 
and their eggs, which conllitute its food. Although 
very common, it is not feen without difficulty, 
from the eafe with which, on the appearance of any 
one, it efcapes to the oppofite fide of the tree. It 
builds its nell early in the fpring, in the hole of a 
tree : The female lays from live to feven eggs, of 
an alh colour, marked at the end with fpots of a 
deeper hue. 
