24 FOREST BIRDS. THE SQUIRREL. 



pecker may be heard tapping the loose bark of 

 some decaying tree, and then taking its jerking 

 flight to another, filling the wood with its peculiar 

 wild-cry, which, Mr. White says, seems as if it was 

 laughing at all the world. Nor must the Cuckoo 

 be forgotten in this description of woodland sce- 

 nery. Its hollow note is responded to by that of 

 another, sometimes in rapid succession, till the 

 sounds approach near and more near, and then 

 sudden silence ensues. It is pleasing to hear these 

 unvarying notes. They are listened to with de- 

 light by every lover of nature, and there are few 

 birds which would be more missed in rural re- 

 treats. 



The merry Cuckoo, messenger of spring, 

 is hailed on his first arrival as the harbinger of 

 fine weather by every peasant in the country. 

 Shakspeare calls it u the plainsong cuckoo/* but 

 its notes vary according to the season of the year. 

 While seated on the spot I have described, it is 

 pleasant to watch the actions of a squirrel. One 

 may sometimes be seen bounding from branch to 

 branch, and then descending to the ground, when 

 it will sit on its hind legs, look around, and then 

 wash its face with its fore-paws. All its actions 

 are graceful. On being disturbed, it hurries up a 

 neighbouring tree, gets on the side opposite to 

 the beholder, and may soon be seen on the top- 

 most branches, except when it hides itself in some 



