212 ZYGODACTYLES. 



several wood-peckers vary in tint with the general colours of 

 the trees which they select. If it is an alternation of green 

 moss, yellow lichen, and ruby-tinted cups, with here and 

 there a spot of black, then the green wood-pecker conies in 

 charge ; but if it is the black and white lichens of the alpine 

 forest or the harsh-juiced tree, then we may look for the 

 spotted race upon the bark. 



The tree is all to the woodpecker; it is a castle, a pasture, 

 a larder, a nursery, an alarm-drum, and a lute. When the 

 renovation of the spring begins to be felt through all nature, 

 and the fluids both of animals and of vegetables receive new 

 action and new energy from that light and heat which the 

 sun of the young year dispenses, the wood-pecker in the large 

 hole of the tree, and the egg or the larvae in the little one, 

 partake of the renovation ; and the wood-pecker creeps out, 

 and tries till he comes to a place which is hollow, and upon 

 that he beats the drum in loud and rolling taps, but yet 

 without in the least perforating the tree. The instrument 

 and the sound are rude, but the bird contrives to make the 

 latter merry, and in some degree musical. The sound swells 

 and sinks, and hurries and lingers alternately, so that at a 

 distance it resembles the sound of rustic glee heard through 

 the woodland : and if the wood-pecker's mate catches the 

 sound, she answers to it, and the bargain is concluded, and 

 the labour of the season begun ; if not, the male glides on to 

 another tree, uttering his short cry, plu-i, plu-i, upon which 

 he again resumes his serenade ; and if there happens to be an 

 odd bird in the wood, this call of love may occasionally be 

 heard, till the ardour of the summer sun has evaporated that 

 energy which his coming in the spring inspired. 



The sound is a rude one, and one which we would suppose 

 but little suited for awakening the tender passion. But 

 many of the love-calls of birds are harsh; and yet the croak 

 of the raven, and the caw of the rook, answer the purpose of 



