BIRDS OF PEASEMARSH 



the way of the plough, that it gave the orchard 

 a shiftless appearance, and that they could not 

 see the sense of going round a tree that no 

 longer bore fruit, and many other reasons why 

 the tree should come out. 



But it was saved for the birds in the end, and 

 in it the Flickers spent a very busy time. The 

 decayed wood they pecked from around the 

 opening made a soft sawdusty lining, for the 

 Flicker builds no nest inside his house, and 

 here they hatched a family of five. Weary 

 work it must have been to feed them all, and 

 the old Flickers had no time to be disturbed 

 when a camera appeared, but flitted in and out 

 of the nest and were easily photographed. 



Before very long the strongest of the family 

 appeared at the opening of the nest, calling 

 hoarsely for his mother to hurry with the 

 dinner. One day when he was thus engaged 

 a big Crow appeared, the Crow that only the 

 day before had carried off a young Robin. The 

 young Flicker ducked his head down and kept 

 very still; all his brothers and sisters were 

 quiet also; not a sound could be heard from 

 the tree that a moment before had been a very 

 bedlam of demanding voices. The old Flickers 



[44] 



