The Avifauna. 



99 



confined, and during the many months it was in 

 the aviary it wrought almost incessantly to effect 

 its escape. It made holes in the woodwork, and the 

 harder the wood the better it seemed to like to peck 

 at it. But for being closely 

 watched, and the holes re- _ c x^ 



As far ^Wl 



^-.- 



paired, it doubtless would soon :^' 

 have made its exit, 

 as its bill could reach in be- 

 tween the stones, it loosened 

 the plaster from the wall, and, 

 with the greatest amount of "^^^ 

 perseverance, pecked away at V • 

 the iron bars incessantly. On \i^' 

 the first Sunday of the bird's f' 

 imprisonment a zealous police- 

 man on the beat heard a noise 

 in an ironmonger's shop adjoin- 

 ing Mr Dewar's premises. Listening at the keyhole, 

 he concluded that burglars had effected an entrance, 

 and were engaged in picking the lock of the safe. 

 Raising the alarm, the premises were speedily sur- 



The Great Spotted 

 woodpeckek. 



