SITTA, Lin. &C. NUTHATCH.
Bill straight, prismatic, pointed, and fitted for opening the bark of trees; the tail composed of twelve feathers.
S. Europcsa, Lin. &c. European Nuthatch, Prov. Nzajobbcr, Nutbreaker, or Woodcracker. Plumbeous above, sub-ferruginous beneath ; a black streak across the eyes, and black lateral tail feathers, whitish near the tips. Weight neatly an ounce, length five inches three quarters, and alar expanse nine inches. The tints of the female are weaker than those of the male, especially about the sides and thighs. This species inhabits Europe and Asia, and seems to be little affected by the influence of climate. In this island, as in most other countries, it is stationary, but local, and chiefly affects wooded and inclosed situations, frequently selecting the deserted habitation of a wood pecker for its nest. In this case the entrance to the hole is first contracted by a plaster of clay or mud, to exclude larger birds, and leaving only sufficient room for itself to pass in and out. The male and female jointly labour at the construction of the nest, which usually consists of dead leaves and moss heaped together without much order, and sometimes lined with the dust of the decayed tree in which the nest is placed. The number of eggs is gene rally six or seven, and they are of a dirty white, with dusky :Tots, being scarcely distinguishable from those of the greater titmouse. If the plaster at the entrance be de stroyed when there are eggs in the nest, it is speedily replaced. During incubation the female is assiduously attended by the male, who regularly supplies her with food. Though easily driven from her nest at other times, she sits on her eggs with great pertinacity. striking the invader with her bill and wings, and hissing like a snake ; and after every effort has been practised in vain, she will rather suffer herself to be taken than desert her charge. The eggs are hatched in May ; and there is rarely more than one brood in the season. After the young can pro
vide for themselves, the family separates, and all seek retirement, though they are occasionally observed to mingle with titmice and woodpeckers. Although the nuthatch spends much of its time in climbing or creeping on trees, its motions are nimbler than those of the sparrow, as well as smoother and more connected ; for it makes less noise in flying. In climbing it is more expert than the woodpecker ; for it runs up and down a tree in all directions. When employed in breaking a nut, its fa vourite position is with the head down. In the autumn, it is no uncommon thing to find in the crevices of the hark of an old tree a great many broken nut shells, the work of this bird, which repeatedly returns to the same spot for this purpose. When it has fixed the nut firm in a chink, it turns on all sides to strike it with most advantage, This, with the common hazel nut, is a work of some labour; but it strikes a filbert with ease. Whilst at work, it makes a rapping noise, which may be heard at some distance. In default of nuts or seeds, this bird searches for insects and their larvae among moss or old trees, or walls, thatch, Ste. In winter it picks the larvae of beetles from under the bark of trees, and has recourse to the magazine of nuts, and the seeds of sun-flower, hemp, &c. which it is known sometimes to lay up against the cold season. Some times it is met with in vineyards, orchards, or gardens ; and in the cyder season it has been observed culling the seeds from the refuse of the pressed apples. Though silent during the greater part of the year, h has in spring a remarkably loud and shrill whistle, which ceases after incubation, and gives place in autumn to a double reite rated cry ; but the singular jarring noise produced by some species of woodpeckers, by repeated strokes of the bill against the decayed limb of a tree, has been erroneously ascribed to the nuthatch.