264 Mr. W. H. Sirapson^s Narrative 



one June 10th, 1858. It is a very wary species, taking alarm 

 at almost any sound ; and though after a short and heavy flight 

 settling dovFn again just at the distance which gives one hope of 

 a successful stalk, it is only with the intention of repeating the 

 operation." — E. N. 



[To be continued.] 



XXVI. — Narrative of the discovery of some Nests of the Black 

 Woodpecker (Picus martius) in Sweden. By W. H. Simpson, 

 M.A. 

 The forests of Sweden seem to be the head-quarters of the 

 European Woodpeckers. No less than eight species are enu- 

 merated as occurring in that country ; viz. Picus martius, P. 

 viridis, P. canus, P. leuconotus, P. major, P. medius, P. minor. 

 and P. tridactylus. 



In the districts south of the Great Lakes, especially towards 

 the Baltic, the forests, though not so extensive as in the Central 

 and Northern parts of the Peninsula, still cover vast areas of 

 the level surfaces, the remainder being largely occupied by lakes 

 and morasses. Cultivation has not made much progress here, 

 and, as the sale of timber is most profitable to the proprietors, 

 few but the woodcutter ever invade these regions. In the vici- 

 nity of settlements, or wherever there is facility of carriage, the 

 trees are of second growth, and stand in blocks of various ages, 

 divided by lanes often of great length and regularity. There 

 are, however, districts little touched by the axe, which are more 

 exclusively delivered over to the birds of the air and the beasts 

 of the field ; here the Wolf and the Glutton, not to mention 

 Foxes in abundance, still dwell in snug lairs amongst the huge 

 granite boulders that are matted over with a covering of heather, 

 cranberry, and similar plants; — quiet gloomy spots, seldom 

 reached by the sun, where the fir and the pine, the beech and 

 black poplar of all ages and sizes are mingled in rank confusion. 

 The mouldering remnants of past generations of trees lie pro- 

 strate on the ground, or lean for support against their more vigor- 

 ous neighbours, thus forming a tangled mass by no means easy 

 for man to penetrate, though much beloved by many of the 



