26 Oxford: Autumn and Winter. 



One is apt to think of the Creeper as a silent 

 and very busy bird, who never finds leisure to 

 rest and preen his feathers, or to relieve his mind 

 with song. When he does sing he takes us a 

 little aback. One spring morning, as I was 

 strolling in the Broad Walk, a Creeper flew past 

 me and fixed himself on the thick branch of an 

 elm not on a trunk, as usual and uttered a 

 loud and vigorous song, something after the 

 manner of the Wren's. I had to turn the glass 

 upon him to make sure that there was no mistake. 

 This is the only occasion on which I have ever 

 heard the Creeper sing, and it seems strange that 

 a bird with so strong a voice should use it so 

 seldom. 



I have never but once seen the Green Wood- 

 pecker in Oxford, and that was as he flew rapidly- 

 over the Parks in the direction of the Magdalen 

 elms. If he lives there, he must be known to the 

 Magdalen men, but I have not had intelligence 

 of him. The fact is that he is a much wilder 

 bird than his near relation, the Lesser Spotted 

 Woodpecker, who is, or was, beyond doubt an 

 Oxford resident. A correspondent of the Oxford 



