BIRD-LIFE UPON THE CLIFFS. 235 



Possibly the bird breeds regularly in these situa- 

 tions, seeing that it is so commonly observed in 

 them. Only the other day we mention this as 

 a fairly representative instance we watched a 

 Green Woodpecker for some time searching for 

 food upon a steep broken cliff. We were first 

 attracted by the gleaming yellow of its upper 

 plumage, as it went along before us in dipping 

 flight, and clung to the bare red earth. After 

 remaining quite still for a few moments it was 

 a male in splendid plumage it began to run here 

 and there about the ground, with long tail de- 

 pressed, and supporting the body as it clung to 

 the steep bank, and from the peculiar motion of 

 the head distinctly seen through our binocular 

 the bird was evidently feeding. Then it flew a 

 few yards farther along the cliff, and took several 

 long hops upwards, and again began to feed. At 

 last we suppose it detected us, and uttering its 

 loud, clear, laughing cry, it took wing, and we 

 lost it round a corner of the rocks. Hereabouts 

 Green Woodpeckers seem to obtain almost as 

 much food from the ground as from the timber, 

 judging from the frequency that we flush them from 

 the former situation. We should perhaps mention 



