134 FIRST APPEARANCES OF BIRDS, INSECTS, ETC. 



whistle. After which she hung on a neighbouring tree under 

 shelter of a protecting branch for some time, and looked the 

 picture of misery. 



At 12.20 the hen returned and kept up a harsh croaking 

 call for about 5 minutes. 



She stayed about 3 minutes poking into the nesting hole 

 and then fled, being immediately replaced by the male, which 

 fed the most backward youngster and finally left about 

 12.30 ; the birds stayed calling in the neighbourhood for a 

 time and then seemed to go. 



As the rain had not abated and had soaked W.P.C. 's back 

 and stool, he copied their example. 



On July llth the young had flown. (W.P.C. & E.H.C.) 

 Dtndrocopus major (The Great Spotted Woodpecker). 



21 March. We found a bird engaged on getting out a 

 nesting hole in a rotten birch at Canford. E.H.C. made 

 himself thoroughly acquainted with the note of this bird, 

 and got the bird to answer. The note is very like the first 

 startled " tchack " of a surprised blackbird. The note is 

 repeated at intervals and uttered singly. 



22 March. This species was " hammering " in Berewood. 



23 March. We went to the nesting hole commenced on 

 21 March, but found very few chips, although the entrance 

 seemed finished, and E.H.C. watched for three-quarters of an 

 hour without seeing either bird. 



14 June. W.P.C. set up a tent to this hole, as we had heard 

 the young birds calling. The following are the notes he was 

 able to take, and it is to be remarked that where no food 

 could be identified no note of that fact is taken. 



12 a.m. While I was adjusting, the hen came with a moth 

 and a caterpillar that I could not identify. The nest being 

 high, I had the disadvantage of being some distance away on 

 the ground ; there was no available cover aloft anywhere near. 



The young kept up a continual " chick chick chick chick." 

 It is a harsh and metallic noise, and 1 likened it to the noise 

 of a rusty wheelbarrow pin. (E.H.C. says he never heard a 

 wheelbarrow wheel revolve as fast.) The little birds did not 



