46 ON SURREY HILLS. 



danger ; trust to his wings he dares not : if he is 

 to escape, it must be by his feet. With head turn- 

 ing in all directions, and body close to the tree- 

 trunk, he looks for his enemy. Here he comes ! 

 a close shave it is this time. Quick as thought 

 the hawk recovers himself for the mount. The 

 yaffle's head is only just missed; another pounce, 

 and one or two of his back-feathers fly : the hawk 

 has changed his method of attack, and struck at him 

 sideways. The yaffle, mad with fear, is cluttering 

 and shrieking, while his mate answers him. He 

 is near her hiding-place ; if he can only get there 

 he will be safe, but he is nearly beat. With a rush 

 the hawk comes for him and misses. Before he 

 can turn again, quick though he is, the yaffle dives 

 into the place of refuge with his mate. You see 

 the green woodpeckers frequently on the ant-hills 

 in the meadows adjoining the woods, and I think 

 they will hold their own for a long time if the woods 

 remain. They are very shy, and are rarely shot. 

 All their mode of life tends to concealment. It is 

 only when the male bird thinks of taking to himself 

 a mate that he shows himself to advantage. Then he 

 and she certainly talk loudly enough together ; and 



X 



