IDYLLS OF BIRD LIFE 
down at you, as if to inquire why you intrude on his domain. 
Only a few moments, and seeing that you intend no harm, he 
resumes his task of destroying larvae. 
The most frigid weather has no terrors for this hardy little 
tree mouse,” as he is sometimes called. His cheery “quank, 
quank, hank, hank,” may be heard while the mercury hovers 
iat zero-and the snow hurls through his feeding grounds. He is 
usually seen in company with the titmice, chickadees, kinglets 
and brown creepers. 
/O /V 
Closely related to the white-breasted nuthatch is his red- 
(fi h* 
breasted cousin of the same name. Lead-colored above, he has 
■ 
rownish wings and tail. The head and neck are black; like¬ 
's. 
wise the chin and shoulders. A white stripe passes through 
the eye to the shoulder. The under part is light and rusty red. 
The tail feathers are barred with white and edged with pale 
brown. 
IQ 
This tiny Winter resident is easily distinguished from his 
Co 
rger cousin by his red breast. The red-breasted nuthatch is 
7%A 
generally seen in company with his relatives, the white breast 
and the brown creeper, while the ruby-crowned kinglet and th 
chickadees are not barred from his societv. 
J ;r*.‘ 
r i3oi 
x]\ 
130 
