253 



terminated in the same way. "Well," thought I, " that is 

 strange ! What can be troubling the little fellow. I surely 

 must look into this". 



Just beyond the fringe of the woods was a fallen apple 

 tree^ its trunk lying prone upon the ground but with several 



Figs. 213, 214, 215. SOME VIEWS AT THE NEST HOLE. 



gaunt grayed branches pointing upward. On the tip of one 

 of these was Sir Wren. At the very moment that I sighted 

 him^ he lifted his head, swelled his throat and the liquid 

 notes just trickled through his vibrating mandibles; almost 

 at the same instant a gleam of black and white flashed 

 through the air and he dodged just in time to escape the 

 savage rush of a Downy Woodpecker. Alighting on another 

 stump, the wren again burst into song, only to be pursued 

 by the Downy as before. 



Downy Woodpeckers are usually peaceable birds. But 

 one thing could cause the strange actions of this one, — a 

 nest. Sure enough, about half way up in the larger of the 



