A YEAR WITH THE BIRDS 589 
ward vent. Bill dark lead-color, feet dark brown. Female paler 
with color boundaries less distinctly marked. 
Song. A call, “ Quank-quank-quank ! ” and a few other notes. 
Season: A common resident, roving about all winter. 
Nest: In tree holes, which it excavates with great patience, and lines 
with feathers, moss, etc., after the fashion of Titmice. 
Eggs: Often 10, white, speckled with red and lilac. 
This Nuthatch, who is our most conspicuous bird-acrobat, 
persistently walking head downward and performing various 
tortuous feats while he searches for food, is a resident of the 
eastern United States, only leaving the most northerly parts 
of his range for a short time in winter. 
Though this bird may be about all the summer it is rather 
quiet and shy in the nesting season, and it is not until the 
bright summer birds suddenly vanish and the red leaves of 
the fine-figured Virginia creeper cling to the tree trunks that 
w r e begin to notice the Nuthatches in their costumes of gray and 
white, set off with a black cap and collar. 
Then we see them running head downward along the tree- 
trunks, woodpecker fashion, and, if we set up a lunch counter, 
we may count upon them as regular customers. 
As insect eaters and grub destroyers they are in the first 
grade and at the head of the class. 
They have the curious habit of sleeping head downward, 
and one cold night last winter I found that a pair who fed daily 
about the great apple tree were sleeping snug and warm behind 
a lantern that was fastened to a board against the side of the 
tree to light the approach to the house. 
TO A NUTHATCH 
Shrewd little hunter of woods all gray, 
Whom I meet on my walk of a winter day, 
You’re busy inspecting each cranny and hole 
In the ragged bark of yon hickory bole ; 
You intent on your task, and I on the law 
Of your wonderful head and gymnastic claw ! 
The Woodpecker well may despair of this feat — 
Only the fly with you can compete. 
So much is clear; but I fain would know 
How you can so reckless and fearless go, 
Head upward, head downward, all one to you, 
Zenith and nadir the same to your view. 
— Edith Thomas. 
