THE GREEN WOODPECKER. 



125 



position from one ant-hill to another, and when disturbed 

 generally flies off, uttering its loud, laughing cry (once 

 heard always to be remembered), to the nearest tree, there 

 to creep up the trunk or on the branches, taking care to be 

 out of harm's way. This laughing cry has given the bird 

 the provincial name of the Yaffel : 



" The skylark in ecstasy sang from a cloud, 

 And chanticleer crowed and the j<^>/ laughed loud." 



THE GREEN WOODPECKER. 



In Hertfordshire .the bird is known as the Whetile or 

 Cutter, which, according to Mr. Swainson, is derived from 

 the Anglo-Saxon thwitan, " to cut ; " but it also goes by 

 the name of the Rain-Bird or Wetall, from the supposition 

 that its peculiar cry is constantly repeated when wet 

 weather is coming. 



