12 Forest Birds. 
cry, ike a madman’s laugh, sounded forth, echoing 
harshly through the trees. It was so loud and 
unexpected that, often as we had heard it before, 
we were startled. Looking up into the tree whence 
the sound proceeded we saw a Green Woodpecker, 
whose dark-green form was scarcely distinguishable 
from the mossy trunk to which it clung. 
Standing motionless, we watched every movement 
of the bird as it climbed up the tree. Grasping 
the bark firmly with its strong curved claws, and 
keeping its tail pressed down upon the trunk, the 
Woodpecker mounted by a series of short jerks or 
jumps, and, as it went, every now and then it gave 
the tree a loud tap with its powerful beak, instinc- 
tively knowing by the sound given out whether or 
not there was a decaying part. Presently such a 
spot was detected, and the Woodpecker’s head began 
to move backwards and forwards so fast that we 
could scarcely follow its movements, and a sound 
like that of a miniature steam hammer was made by 
its vigorous pecking! This noise soon disturbed the 
insect inhabitants of the decaying wood, and as 
they ran out, the bird stopped its rapid blows, and 
shooting out a long tongue, like a glistening ribbon, 
from its mouth, soon captured every insect visible. 
Then up the bird went again, and soon reached the 
top of the tree, where it clung for a moment, as if 
