44 The Naturalist in Silwria. 



day, for further observation, which I did. But on once 

 more thrusting the end of my cane into the cavity, there 

 came forth no noise. All inside was silence, and the 

 birds flown. 



Whether the parents had meanwhile carried them off, 

 anticipating my return, with the danger attendant, I am 

 unable to say. For, unluckily, there was another factor 

 in the account, a haymaking boy we were mowing the 

 orchard grass with fist smaller than mine, who, in my 

 absence, may possibly have abstracted the chicks. When 

 charged with the theft, however, he stoutly denied it, and 

 all inquiries failed to fix the thief, if such there was. But 

 more likely the young birds had been removed by the 

 mother, as from the time of year (June 29th), and the 

 loud noise they were able to make, they must have been 

 nearly fledged, and so easy of removal. 



On having the nest itself drawn out, it proved no nest 

 at all, only some loose "daddocks," as pieces of decayed 

 wood are called by the country people. 



A CURIOUS INSTANCE OF SCANSORIAL 

 INSTINCT. 



One of the oddest and most interesting habits of the 

 woodpecker tribe is the training their young to climb 

 trees before they are able to fly. At best the woodpecker 

 is a bird of heavy, laboured flight, and often relies more 

 upon its scansorial powers for concealment or escape, 

 than on its wings. Nature has amply provided it with 

 the means for this in the conformation of its feet, claws, 



