. 2 Bare se { ‘ an so near London as Kensington
it is very common, and a constant resident, but is nowhere more abundant the a g
Gardens and Richmond Park.

Many substances are used for the lining ye
of the oak and beech, strips of bark, &c.; and so partial 1s 1
Mr. Alfred Newton informs me the bird will travel a long w aon

: : 1Cé 2 fr. J. Lilsey :—
economy, the following interesting note has been communicated to me by I = y e |
: ¢ ate ate -oceede 2 ne a hole in an oak tree, much
«Being in want of the eggs of the Nuthatch, I proceeded to examine é ne k ‘tree,
‘ a pair of these birds; and after half an hour's hard chiselling, came
to the nest. It was entirely formed of thin layers or laminze of the mner bark of the pine and similar trees ;
several good handfuls deposited at the bottom of the Boe and in the centre
spotted and blotched with red. Whether the bird is in
I cannot say; but I am inclined to believe that it is.
active and vigorous of our birds, and one of the most
the winter also feeds upon the kernels and

of the cavity in which its spotted eggs are deposited—leaves
t to the bark of the cedar for this purpose, that

ay to obtain it. On this part of the bird’s

frequented during the breeding-season by

of this material there were
of the heap were five eggs of a dull cream-colour,
the constant habit of employing this material, or not,
Considering its size, this is certainly one of the most
inoffensive ; it subsists principally upon insect food, but during
seeds of the yew, hazel, &c., for the former of which it appears to have a preference, as perforated yew-
; n the cracks and fissures of the trees around its haunts. Many

stones may always be found in abundance 1
at a kernel within a few feet of my head, without its evincing the

a time have I watched it hammering away pes
least distrust, or seeming to be for a moment disturbed by my presence. In some districts it is not numerous ;
but it is generally to be met with in the neighbourhood of yew-plantations of any extent.”

The Nuthatch may be readily kept in captivity, when, from its liveliness, cunning, and drollery, it becomes
amost amusing pet; but it must be kept in a cage composed entirely of wire, as any part formed of wood would
be speedily destroyed. It may be fed on hemp-seed, oats, barley, and nuts, all of which it readily splits
with its bill. Bechstein mentions the following instance of its familiarity :—‘‘ A lady amused herself in
winter with throwing seeds on the terrace below her window, to feed the birds in the neighbourhood. She
put some hemp-seed and cracked nuts even on the window-sill and on a board, particularly for her favourites
the Blue Tits. Two Nuthatches came one day to have their share in this repast, and were so well pleased
that they became quite familiar, and did not even go away in the following spring to get their natural food
and to build their nest in the wood. They settled themselves in the hollow of an old tree near the house.
As soon as the two young ones, which they reared here, were able to fly, they brought them to the hospitable
window, where they were to be nourished, and soon after disappeared entirely. It was amusing to see these
two visitors hang or climb on the walls or blinds, while their benefactress put their food on the board.
These pretty creatures, as well as the Tits, knew her so well that, when she drove away the Sparrows which
came to steal what was not intended for them, they did not fly away also, but seemed to know that what
was done was only to protect and defend them. They remained near the house for the whole summer,
rarely wandering, till one fatal day at the beginning of the sporting-season, when, on hearing the report of
a gun, they disappeared, and were never seen again.”

The sexes are alike in colouring, and differ but little in size; and the young assume the livery of the adult
from the time they are able to fly. The eggs, which are from five to seven in number, are subject to con-
siderable variety in form and colouring ; but are usually of a stone-white, spotted and blotched with red and
grey, rather larger, but otherwise very similar to those of the Great Tit (Parus major).

The following is a description of a very fine specimen sent to me by Mr. Cuthbert Larking, on the
24th of September 1856 :—

“All the upper surface clear grey; a black mark, commencing at the nostrils, passes through the eye,
skirts the upper part of the ear-coverts, and curls down the side of the neck; between the clear grey of
the crown and the black streak is a faint line of greyish white, which extends all round the front of the
forehead pimoat, cheeks, and lower part of the ear-coverts white, the latter slightly tinged with buff; under
ee a a body clear boii flanks rich chestnut; under tail-coverts white, each feather broadly edged
; ee A es ek a ee remainder me ae next on each side
a longer mark of the same hue; a cons fait es ; hae a ‘ ee Se an ae
ee ae cite oe a Es ee spot of black on the axillee 5 upper mandible olive-black ;

grey, blending into olive-black towards the tip; irides nearly black, surrounded

by a narrow, bare, dull blue-or :
S , bare, ue-grey lash; tarsi ; ale ea me ces
allow” Suey ; tarsi dull yellowish brown; the joints and pads inclining to sulphur-

ml °
The figures are of the natural size.