GREEN WOODPECKER 



CHAPTER IX 



IT was on a I3th of April, that, having spent some 

 hours in the woods, to no purpose, I at length 

 climbed the hill, up which they ran, and came out 

 upon a smooth slope of turf, from which I had a 

 good view down amongst the trees, which did not 

 grow very thickly. As I emerged, I saw a wood- 

 pecker feeding on the grass, and shortly afterwards 

 two, pursuing each other, flew down upon it, from 

 the wood, but, seeing me, flew back again. It 

 instantly struck me that here was an ideal spot to 

 study the habits of these birds. A penetrable wood 

 which was evidently haunted by them, to look down 

 into, an open down right against it, and good cover, 

 from which I had an equally good view of both. 

 I, therefore, ensconced myself, and soon had the 

 pleasure of making some observations new to myself, 



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