IN GARDEN, PARK, AND SHRUBBERY. 49 



returns to its old nesting-place. Its breeding 

 season is in May, and the eggs are laid on the 

 powdered wood at the bottom of a hole in a tree 

 or dead stump, perhaps a foot or more from the 

 entrance. These are from five to eight in number, 

 pure and spotless white, and polished like those 

 of the Woodpeckers. The female will go on 

 laying egg after egg if they be judiciously re- 

 moved. Only one brood, however, is reared, and 

 young and old take their departure south in 

 September. This bird often feigns death, and 

 contorts itself when held in the hand, especially 

 upon being taken from its nest. 



There are several birds also met with in the park 

 and the shrubbery which will be noted in greater 

 detail elsewhere. First of these is the STARLING. 

 Flocks of these birds feed on the park lands ; and 

 in autumn oft congregate on the tree-tops there, a 

 noisy, restless throng, to roost in the dense crowns 

 of the sycamores and the horse-chestnuts. Then 

 the CREEPER may be noted on the tree-trunks in 

 the park, and the CUCKOO may also frequently be 

 met with there, and his glad cry sounds repeatedly 

 from the trees, which are also frequented by the 

 GREEN WOODPECKER especially, which comes from 

 the adjoining woods ; and very pretty he looks in 

 his dress of green and yellow as he flies in 

 drooping course across the open spaces from one 

 trunk to another. The RING DOVES are also fond 

 of the trees in the park, and love to roost among 

 the fir - trees in the shrubberies ; whilst the 

 SPARROW HAWK visits these places to prey upon 

 the little birds that tenant them ; and the KESTREL 

 may oft be watched soaring in graceful flight 



