26 Oxford: Autumn and Winter. 



One is apt to think of the Creeper as a silent 

 and very busy bird, who never finds leisure to 

 rest and preen his feathers, or to relieve his mind 

 with song. When he does sing he takes us a 

 little aback. One spring morning, as I was 

 strolling in the Broad Walk, a Creeper flew past 

 me and fixed himself on the thick branch of an 

 elm not on a trunk, as usual and uttered a 

 loud and vigorous song, something after the 

 manner of the Wren's. I had to turn the glass 

 upon him to make sure that there was no mistake. 

 This is the only occasion on which I have ever 

 heard the Creeper sing, and it seems strange that 

 a bird with so strong a voice should use it so 

 seldom. 



I have never but once seen the Green Wood- 

 pecker in Oxford, and that was as he flew rapidly 

 over the Parks in the direction of the Magdalen 

 elms. If he lives there, he must be known to the 

 Magdalen men, but I have not had intelligence 

 of him. The fact is that he is a much wilder 

 bird than his near relation, the Lesser Spotted 

 Woodpecker, who is, or was, beyond doubt an 

 Oxford resident. A correspondent of the Oxford 



