WOODPECKERS 51 



excepting a solitary instance, the Ground Woodpecker (or, 

 more strictly speaking, " Ground Pecker "), which excavates 

 a hole in the bank of a river, donga or cutting. We give 

 an illustration of one clinging to the entrance of its sub- 

 terranean abode. This photo was taken in the vicinity of 



Fig. 26. — Knysna Woodpecker. 



Carlisle Bridge, Fish Eiver, in the District of Albany. The 

 nest hole contained three young birds about two weeks old. 



In the neighbourhood of Grahamstown this bird is plentiful 

 on a rocky hillside just outside the precincts of the town off 

 the road to Featherstone Valley, where its weird whistling 

 screech can be heard in the evening. 



Its tunnel usually runs straight into the bank for about 



