50 DECEMBER OUT-OF-DOORS. 



the creeper, it must be owned, cannot speak 

 without lisping. 



Following my usual practice, I began a 

 catalogue of the month's birds, and at the 

 end of a fortnight discovered, to my aston- 

 ishment, that the name of the downy wood- 

 pecker was missing. He had been common 

 during November, and is well known as one 

 of our familiar winter residents. I began 

 forthwith to keep a sharp lookout for him, 

 particularly whenever I went near any apple 

 orchard. A little later, I actually com- 

 menced making excursions on purpose to 

 find him. But the fates were against me, 

 and go where I would, he was not there. 

 At last I gave him up. Then, on the 27th, 

 as I sat at my desk, a chickadee chirped 

 outside. Of course I looked out to see him ; 

 and there, exploring the branches of an old 

 apple-tree, directly under my window, was 

 the black-and-white woodpecker for whom 

 I had been searching in vain through five 

 or six townships. The saucy fellow! He 

 rapped smartly three or four times ; then he 

 straightened himself back, as woodpeckers 

 do, and said: "Good-morning, sir! Where 

 have you been so long ? If you wish to see 



