of the discovery of some Nests of the Black Woodpecker. 271 



that day, and that the matter should stand over for the present ; 

 but the woodman said that he should return early in the morn- 

 ing, and build a ladder on the spot sufficiently high to reach the 

 '* Bo," It was to be ready next day at noon, when all the party 

 was to reassemble and assist in hoisting it. 



Comforted by this assurance, we returned to a neighbouring 

 foi-est settlement. Just at dusk, a man living near came and re- 

 ported a " Bo " of the Spilkraka and another of the Hackspett. 

 To the latter I proceeded immediately, but on cutting it open 

 found three young ones half-fledged. 



Next morning an early start was made for the third Spil- 

 kraka's ''Bo," reported the previous evening. It was situated 

 in a much thicker part of the wood than either of the others. 

 Indeed I am inclined to think, judging also from old nests, that 

 this bird prefers to breed in the neighbourhood of some opening, 

 whether caused by nature or the axe. The hole in this case was 

 situated about halfway (20 feet perhaps) up a dead fir. Being 

 somewhat impatient on this occasion, I requested the man to fell 

 the tree, which he did in the course of ten minutes, causing it to 

 fall with wonderful accuracy against one of its neighbours which 

 he had selected ; but the weight was too great, and both came 

 to the ground with an awful crash. On going up to the hole 

 young ones were heard, but could not be reached without our 

 further enlarging it. The cavity of this nest was an inch or two 

 over two feet from the honeycombed roof to the base on which the 

 young had rested ; these, together with much of the sawdust, had 

 been thrown forward, but, singularly enough, though stunned, 

 they were not killed by the concussion. Had there been eggs, 

 they must, I think, have been broken to pieces. There was a 

 considerable quantity of sawdust which had the appearance of 

 sand, the particles being much finer than those of the nest in 

 the birch-tree. Three birds were all the nest contained; they 

 seemed to have been hatched about four days. As there was 

 no hope now for them, they were put into spirits, and afterwards 

 given with several others to my friend Mr. John Wolley, to 

 whose suggestions the results of this expedition were chiefly due. 

 The old birds did not exhibit the usual amount of anxiety ; but 

 just before wc left, the female suddenly appeared and clung to 



