232 A DESCRIPTION OF 
out of the hole, place it first in a chink, and standing 
above it with his head downwards, striking it with all his 
might, break the shell, and catch up the kernel. He 
feeds also upon flies and other small insects. The hen is 
so attached to her brood, that, when disturbed from her 
nest, she flutters about the head of the depredator, and 
hisses like a snake. The Nuthatches are shy and solitary 
birds, and, like the woodpecker, they frequent woods, and 
run up and down the trees with surprising facility. 
They often move their tails in the manner of the wagtail. 
They do not migrate, but during the winter they approach 
nearer to inhabited places, and are sometimes seen in 
orchards and gardens. The female lays her eggs in holes 
of trees, frequently in those which have been deserted by 
the woodpecker. The young ones are said to afford a 
very delicate food. 
THE CREEPER. (Certhiafamiliaris.) 
THE Creepers form a family in themselves. They are 
dispersed through most countries of the globe. They 
feed chiefly on insects, in search of which they run round 
and round the stems and branches of trees. The Wall 
Creeper, or Spider Catcher, is larger than a house-spar- 
row. It has a long, slender, black bill; the head, neck, 
and back are of an ash colour ; the breast white ; the 
wings a compound of lead colour and red. It is a brisk 
