234 RURAL BIRD LIFE. 



decayed limb or trunk, and work at it incessantly, carry- 

 ing the greater part of the decayed wood chipped out in 

 the excavation to some considerable distance from their 

 nesting-site, until it is of sufficient depth to answer their 

 purpose. The hole is not always a straight one, indeed 

 it almost invariably turns either to the right or left, and 

 is only large enough to admit the parent bird. At the 

 bottom of this passage the hole is slightly enlarged. 

 No nesting materials are required — the soft decayed 

 wood at the bottom of the hole answers every purpose. 

 Here the Woodpecker lays her eggs, four, five, or even 

 six in number, not quite so large as a Thrush's, and of a 

 delicate pinky hue beautifully granulated, and appearing 

 in the hollow cavity like pearls of the finest lustre. But 

 when the contents are removed the pink hue vanishes, 

 and the ^^'g remains a pure and spotless white, and 

 smooth and shining as ivory. 



The food of the Woodpecker consists of insects, and 

 when feeding their young they collect a great quantity 

 in their mouth, under the tongue, just like the Rook. 

 The tongue of the Woodpecker is worthy of a few re- 

 marks. His bill is not used in the same manner as the 

 Flycatcher, although both birds feed on insects. With 

 his strong beak he uncovers his prey and removes the 

 bark under which it is lurking : then his tongue, long and 

 slender, is shot rapidly out, and the insects easily 

 secured. Altogether the Woodpeckers are very inter- 

 esting birds. Haunting as they do the deepest woods, 

 they are seldom seen, yet their life history is none the 

 less interesting. But time gets on apace, and we must 

 leave the Woodpecker, 



tapping the hollow beech tree, 



to his useful labours, and notice another little active 

 woodland bird often seen in the same localities as he. 



