64 A THORN-TREE NEST. 



scious of a knocking sound in the woods beside 

 the road. It was like a light tapping on hollow 

 wood, and it regularly followed each cry. I was 

 at once reassured. It must be a woodpecker, 

 I thought, — they make some strange noises, 

 and there was a large one, the pileated, said to 

 inhabit these woods, though I had never been 

 able to see him. I went on more confidently 

 then, for I must see what woodpecker baby 

 could utter such cries. As I continued to ad- 

 vance, though I could still see nothing, I noticed 

 that the tapping grew louder every moment. 



Suddenly there was a movement at the edge 

 of a thick clump of ferns, and my eyes fell upon 

 what I thought was, after all, a big toad or frog. 

 It hopped like one of these reptiles, and as it 

 was growing dusky, feathers and fur and bare 

 skin looked much alike. But being anxious to 

 know positively, I went on, and when I reached 

 it I saw that it was a young bird, nearly as big 

 as a robin just out of the nest. Then I dropped 

 all impedimenta, and gave myself unreservedly 

 to the catching of that bird. He fled under the 

 ferns, which were like a thick mat, and I stooped 

 and parted them, he flying ever ahead till he 

 reached the end and came out in sight. Then I 

 pounced upon him, and had him in my hands. 



Such a shriek as he gave ! while he struggled 

 and bit, and proved himself very savage indeed. 



