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12 Forest Birds. 



cry, like a madman's laugh, sounded forth, echoing 

 harshly through the trees. It was so loud and 

 unexpected that, often as we had heard it before, 

 we were startled. Looking up into the tree whence 

 the sound proceeded we saw a Green Woodpecker, 

 whose dark-green form was scarcely distinguishable 

 from the mossy trunk to which it clung. 



Standing motionless, we watched every movement 

 of the bird as it climbed up the tree. Grasping 

 the bark firmly with its strong curved claws, and 

 keeping its tail pressed down upon the trunk, the 

 Woodpecker mounted by a series of short jerks or 

 jumps, and, as it went, every now and then it gave 

 the tree a loud tap with its powerful beak, instinc- 

 tively knowing by the sound given out whether or 

 not there was a decaying part. Presently such a 

 spot was detected, and the Woodpecker's head began 

 to move backwards and forwards so fast that we 

 could scarcely follow its movements, and a sound 

 like that of a miniature steam hammer was made by 

 its vigorous pecking ! This noise soon disturbed the 

 insect inhabitants of the decaying wood, and as 

 they ran out, the bird stopped its rapid blows, and 

 shooting out a long tongue, like a glistening ribbon, 

 from its mouth, soon captured every insect visible. 

 Then up the bird went again, and soon reached the 

 top of the tree, where it clung for a moment, as if 



