GREEN WOODPECKER. 



95 



foot down the branch, and is enlarged for the nest. Its locality 

 may be readily found by the chips beneath the tree, and they are 

 thus distinguished from similar holes bored by the Marsh Tit, who 

 cunningly has the prudence to carry its chips away. A pair of these 

 pretty little birds used to visit the garden of Harley House, in the 

 centre of the city of Hereford, every spring, until the special apple 

 tree (an Irish Peach Apple) to which it took a fancy, and in which 

 it bored a nest hole, unfortunately died. 



[Genus — Picoides.] 



[PicoiDES Tridactylus — European Three-toed Woodpecker.] 



Once shot in Scotland, 1820, Donovan. 



Genus— GECINUS. 

 GECINUS VIRIDIS— Green Woodpecker. 



Every leaf was at rest, and I heard not a sound 

 But the Woodpecker tapping the hollow beech trees. 



Moore — Stanzas, 



An echo, like a ghostly Woodpecker. 



Tennyson — Princess. 



This fine, handsome bird is commonly called the " Hickle " in 

 Herefordshire, from the quick repetition of this word in its wild 

 laughing cry. It is also called by some the " Storm Fowl " or 

 "Rain Bird," and unquestionably it does utter its cry more 

 frequently between thunder showers than at other times. Gilbert 

 White and many others have compared its note to the sound of 

 laughter, and hence, too, it has got the name of " Yaffil." 



The Skylark in ecstasy sang from a cloud, 



And Chanticleer crow'd, and the YaflBl laughed loud. 



— The Peacock at Home. 



Now we hear 

 The Golden Woodpecker, who like a fool, 

 Laughs loud at nothing. 



HuRDis — Village Curate. 



The Woodweele sang, and wold not cease, 

 Sitting upon the spraye, 

 Soe lowde he wakened Robin Hood 

 In the greenwood where he lay. 



Percy's Reliques— i2o6m Bood and Guy of Gisborne. 



