derive from Wcodpeckos. 325 



instinctive judgment they fix upon the place to form the 

 entrance to their intended nest. That they know the tree is 

 hollow is evident, from their never breaking into sound trees ; 

 and this they discover by rapping their bills against the outside ; 

 or, perhaps, from the previous attack of insects on the ex- 

 terior. Trees become hollow by the accidental loss of a branch, 

 the remaining stump of which rots in time: rain enters at the 

 scar, and, sinking downwards, destroys the sound timber in its 

 course. The bird could gain an easy entrance into the interior 

 through this rotten opening ; but this would not suit her pur- 

 pose, either for comfort or security. She therefore chooses a 

 spot immediately under the protuberance which always grows 

 around the base of a branch, and there chisels out a round hole, 

 just big enough to allow an easy ingress and egress to the 

 hollow within, where she makes a slight nest, lays four or five 

 eggs, hatches, and rears her brood in darkness, but in perfect 

 safety from crows and magpies, which would destroy the callow 

 young, could they see or seize them in their helpless state. 

 And, even when the oeillets are old enough to issue out of their 

 den, and to climb about around the entrance, many of them are 

 destroyed by the sparrow-hawks, to whom these young birds are 

 a favourite repast. 



The largest spotted woodpecker is endowed with similar 

 instincts, and, in manners, is very like the preceding; but 

 this species is less common, and less industrious, than the 

 first ; for they will often content themselves with an old resi- 

 dence, rather than make a new entrance for themselves. In 

 this respect, the green woodpecker may be considered a pioneer 

 to the rest of the family ; as well as to several other hole-and- 

 corner-loving birds, such as starlings, nuthatches, and the like. 

 But our greater spotted friend makes himself known by his own 

 jarring reports^ which are quite as audible as the laugh of his 

 green-robed congener. Hence, he has got the name of the 

 jarr-bird : for never was sound produced by any animal so 

 significantly described by a word, than his noise is by the term 

 jaiT. 



This bird, like the others, seeks his food on the dead tops of 

 trees. The dead branches are always thickly wormeaten j and 

 the holes, though deserted by the makers, are chosen for asy- 

 lums by many different insects, as earwigs, and the like. To 

 rouse these insects from their cells, the bird places itself upon 

 the side of the branch, and, by a rapid and convulsive motion of 

 the neck, strikes his beak five or six times in an instant against 

 the branch, thereby causing a loud jarr, and such a violent 

 concussion, as alarms the hiding insects, which, in issuing out to 

 escape, are devoured by the watchful disturber. 



The two smaller species are too feeble lo dig new holes for 



Y 3 



