Nuthatch and Creeper. 281 
THE NUTHATCH, OK NUTJOBBEK, 
(Sitta Europcea,) 
AND THE CREEPER, (Certhia familiaris,) 
Is less than the chaffinch. The head, neck, and heak are 
of an ash-colour; the sides under the wings red; the 
throat and breast of a pale yellow ; the chin white, and 
the feathers under the tail red, with white tips. The 
Nuthatch feeds upon insects and also upon nuts, which 
he hoards in the hollow part of a tree ; and it is pleasing 
to see him fetch a nut 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. 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 Nut- 
hatches are shy and solitary birds, and like the wood- 
peckers 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 approach nearer to inhabited places, 
and are sometimes seen in orchards and gardens. The 
female lays her eggs in holes of trees. 
