LEAFLESS WOODS 193 



for a terrible purpose ; they have worked evil, 

 though at the present time they are not used to 

 the extent they have been. Yet even now the 

 baleful preparation of that fungus is known to a 

 few, but they dare not practise with it, thanks to 

 the efficient police supervision in certain places. 



Birds that belong to the woodpecker tribe, 

 or family, are generally supposed to spend their 

 lives shinning round and up trees for a living. 

 In the latter part of the autumn season the 

 birds of this family spend a considerable amount 

 of their time on the ground ; even the little 

 tree-creeper is to be found there also, although 

 never far from the bole or roots. 



As to the nuthatch that agile little fellow 

 who can go up or down a tree, round it, or 

 progress in the most expeditious manner under 

 a bough, back downwards he has a decided 

 preference for the ground in the autumn season. 

 If a bit of short turf is near his haunts, he will 

 get on it, and he can travel swiftly. It is most 

 amusing to see the grey -backed, rich buff, or 

 orange -breasted bird shoot himself over the 

 turf with long hops, or rather leaps, giving out 

 his liquid notes as he goes along. Now he 

 stops, stocks away with his strong bill, eats 

 what he has dug up, and goes on as before. If 



N 



