of the discovery of some Nests of the Black Woodpecker. 269 



However, there was no chance of finding the Spilkraka here ; so I 

 placed myself under the guidance of another woodman, who 

 eventually brought me to a group of firs evidently frequented by 

 a pair of P. martius ; for we heard their now well-known cry, 

 though unable to perceive them. My guide showed me a hole 

 that had been inhabited the two preceding years ; but, as it was 

 some 50 feet up an immensely tall fir, I felt rather happy that 

 the evident absence of the birds relieved me from the necessity 

 of laying siege to that particular nest. Several of the trees were 

 perforated, but we could not find out the right one. 



On the following day the search for Piciis martius was re- 

 newed in a portion of the forest some seven miles to the N.W. 

 of the house, and where the " Bo " of the Glada [Milvus regalis) 

 was also said to occur. We proceeded for several miles along one 

 of the straight rides which traverse this forest, through what 

 appeared at a distance to be a complete wall of pines. From a 

 hut by the way a woodman was picked up, who proved a valuable 

 recruit, and under whose guidance we turned off the ride to the 

 left, following a slightly traced path which conducted to a clear- 

 ing full of old oaks, similar to those previously mentioned. 



The ground in many places hereabouts is very rough, and en- 

 cumbered with masses of decayed and decaying timber, above 

 which shoot very tall firs much mixed with black poplar. We 

 found in the remains of an old birch the nest of Parus cristatus, 

 my attention being first di'awn to the tree by the uneasiness of the 

 birds. On examining it more nan'owly, a hole was apparent 

 about the size of a penny, newly made, and within reach from 

 the ground. I cut it open easily with a pocket-knife, and found 

 young ones almost ready for flying ; the crest was very strongly 

 developed. After being duly inspected, they were restored to the 

 tree, and the hole made up. Further on in this direction was a 

 marsh with much underwood, said to contain Cranes, though 

 none were seen or heard. The chief feature, however, hereabouts 

 is the Hackspett {Picus major), which is numerous, and has a 

 great partiality for the black poplar here so abundant. The 

 number of old holes bored in these trees is surprising. It is 

 very possible also that Picus medius may have its share in 

 this work, though I could not say with certainty that an exam- 



