268 



THE WOODPECKER. 



were curious, and so familiar, that they were quite attractive ; 

 it climbed up the wall by any stick or cord near it, devouring 

 flies. It sometimes began at his foot, and at one race would 

 run up his leg or arm, or round his neck, and down his other 

 arm, and so to the table. It would there tap with its bill with 

 a noise as loud as a hammer, and this was its general habit on 



Woodpeckers. 



the woodwork in every part of the room ; when it did so, it 

 would look intently at the place, and dart at any fly or insect 

 it saw running — in all probability adopting this noisy mode of 

 disturbing such insects as might be concealed within, that it 

 might seize them the moment they appeared.* 



The Wryneck is a small bird about the size of a Thrush, 

 which comes and goes nearly at the same time as the Cuckoo, 

 whence it is in some places called the Cuckoo's Mate. Its 

 * Walsh's Constantinople, p. 310. 



