BRITAIN'S BIRDS AND THEIR NESTS. 213 



bird clinging, we notice a circular opening, showing fresh 

 white wood at its edges. On the ground below there 

 is a tell-tale pile of chips, which the bird has not 

 troubled to remove. These are quite fresh, for a new 

 hole is generally made each spring. If we clamber to the 

 hole we shall find that it goes straight into the heart of 

 the wood, and then turns downward, soon widening out 

 into a more spacious nesting-chamber. To explore this, 

 however, we should have to violate the home with chisel 

 and saw. 



Did we do this, we should find from five to seven 

 delicately white eggs on a layer of wood chips covering 

 the floor of the cavity. Laying takes place in April, and 

 the young birds hatched in the following month are at 

 first naked and helpless, and in due course assume their 

 first true feather plumage without any intermediate downy 

 stage. In their immature plumage they are duller than 

 the adults, and have barring on the under-parts. The 

 adult female differs from the male in having black instead 

 of crimson on the cheeks. 



The species is resident where it nests, but its British 

 area is limited. Everywhere it tends to be local, but it 

 is abundant in most suitable districts of England and 

 Wales, although becoming scarce towards the Borders. To 

 Scotland and Ireland it is only the rarest of exceptional 

 wanderers. 



The hysterical cry is uttered most frequently in spring. 

 Popvdarly it is supposed to foretell rain, hence the name 

 ' Rain-Bird.' The name ' Yaffle,' or ' Yaff'er,' also refers 

 to the cry. 



