66 Our IhRD Friends. 



barring up a number of Sand ^lartins" nesting-holes 

 ^vith stones. The courageous little birds had in 

 nearly every case set to work digging a fresh tunnel 

 round the obstru^^-tion. In a I't'w cases tht\- had 

 got through, and, wherever they had not, T at once, ot 

 coui-sc,put their uiindsat rest In'roinoviug the stones. 



The KiugHsliei' does not always tr«>ubl»- to dii;' 

 its own tiuiiiel. bul uiakrs shift witli an old die 

 excavated I'V a Sand Mai'iin or < ccasioiially by a 

 Water liat. Tin- I>ird teds upon small fish, which 

 it swallows wliolc. and. like tlie Kc^tirl. casts them 

 up ill pellets. Tlic-e. willi llic dry iiioiild at llie 

 bottom of the chamber. t'«»rm the led upon wbich 

 the KiiigHsher's egn's are laid. 



'idle illustration on the previous pa^e shows several 

 holes dug by a <ireaier Spotted \Vood|ie.ker at dif- 

 ferent breeding seasons l"or the reception nt' its cLigs. 

 At the tiuH^ the tree was photographed a ri<'d Fly- 

 catcher and a Great Tit were also nesting in holes 

 excavated in it ly tlie W'oodpcd^er. 



l^iillins love a solt. low. peat\' island upon 

 whi<di to breed, jor then they can be (juite happy 

 digging their numerous tunnels, until the whole 

 place becomes so honeycombed that the earth 

 feels as if it were mvin«r wav. It is said that 

 the birds become so absorbed in their task whilst 

 excavating that they pay no heed to a buiiian \isitor, 

 and will at such times allow tliemselves to be taken 

 by hand. If they should arrive upon an island 

 already tenanted by rabbits, they do not trouble to 



