THE GEEEN WOODPECKER. 131 



walking over the part of the Leigh Woods at the top of 

 Nightingale Valley. I several times disturbed a green 

 woodpecker from the grass. On examining a spot recently 

 vacated by the bird, I perceived the ground was penetrated 

 by a number of small holes, about two inches deep. 

 These I concluded had been made by the bird, in order to 

 obtain food, whilst around the same spot was a quantity of 

 recent excreta, which on closer inspection was found to con- 

 sist entirely of the remains of red ants. 



I have lately found several young ash trees attacked by 

 the larva of the Wood-Leopard moth. The damage done to 

 the tree consists of a burrow, eight or ten inches in length, 

 cut longitudinally within the trunk. Although the caterpillar 

 leaves no trace of its work externally, its presence is soon 

 detected, somehow, by the woodpecker, and the wily bird 

 speedily devises a plan for its dislodgment. A funnel-shaped 

 hole is bored through the wood until its apex opens into the 

 insect's burrow. This being accomplished, the bird thrusts 

 its worm-like tongue through the hole made by the bill, and 

 then along the passage made by the grub. The barbed tip 

 soon feels the struggling caterpillar, and by a rapid dart 

 instantly impales it, then drags it from its hiding-place, 

 and the bird finally demolishes it. 



And now it is that " the ringing of the Whitwall's 

 shrilly laughter, which echo follows after," is heard to the 

 best advantage, as the bird wings his undulating flight in 

 search of a fresh victim. 



