varieties of these birds that are e resident, when they choose 
to be, of this section, should be better known. One of their . 
calls, a nasal drawling “nyank, nyank” may often be heard — 
in the suburbs of cities when they are edged with forests, 
but the sound may long remain a mystery even to a 
- mountaineer. The Steller jay has an occasional call in the 
spring which resembles it, that he may have learned from 
these nimble climbers, but it has less carrying power. 
If ever you happen to find a small bird with a black and 
slaty-blue back creeping along in any direction onthe under ; 
surface of a limb, or other place on a tree where his jong 
toes happen to light, get your glasses focused quickly. If © 
the bird has a straight, long, sharp bill and white under 
parts, it is probably the slender-billed nuthatch, but if it 1s 
a bit smaller and is tawny-buff below it may be the red- — 
| breasted nuthatch, as both Hipee are residents of the ate | 
west. 
- Some AS when aheerius in the: pine forests of ths | 
eastern slope of the Cascade *Range you may see a flock of - 
tiny lead-blue, chunky creatures which resemble other 
-nuthatches, in habits and shape, but are smaller and with 
the dark crown showing a white spot on the top of the back 
of the neck. Then probably | you: have found a pygmy 
nuthatch. 
An uncommon bird trait was . shown one June by a flow | 
of these midgets. While watching the waves of the ocean 
break upon the white beach near Pacific Grove, California — 
a bird darted out of a hole about twenty feet up in a stump 
on the sand dunes. It was a Pygmy Nuthatch, although | 
a late nester, for they are said to have but one yearly brood. — 
While the first bird was flying about, a second one 
appeared with insects in its bill, and then another, and _ 
another. As nearly as could be decided, there were seven | 
birds scrambling, with mouthfuls of bugs, into and out of 
that one nest. The only explanation possible was that a 
first brood of this family had decided to help out their little — 
