8 



the sombre depths of the forest, as it rests upon the green turf beneath the picturesque old trees 

 smiling in comparative sunshine, and generally studded with the wood-anemone amongst other 

 flowers of the northern spring. However, there was no chance of finding the Spilkraka here ; so 

 I placed myself under the guidance of another woodman, who eventually brought me to a group 

 of firs evidently frequented by a pair of P. martins ; for we heard their now well-known cry, 

 though unable to perceive them. My guide showed me a hole that had been inhabited the two 

 preceding years ; but, as it was some fifty feet up an immensely tall fir, I felt rather happy that 

 the evident absence of the birds relieved me from the necessity of laying siege to that particular 

 nest. Several of the trees were perforated ; but we could not find out the right one. 



" On the following day the search for Picus martins was renewed, in a portion of the forest 

 some seven miles to the north-west of the house, and where the ' Bo ' of the Glada (Milvus regalis) 

 was also said to occur. We proceeded for several miles along one of the straight rides which 

 traverse this forest, through what appeared in the distance to be a complete wall of pines. From 

 a hut by the way a woodman was picked up, who proved a valuable recruit, and under whose 

 guidance we turned off the ride to the left, following a slightly traced path which conducted to a 

 clearing full of old oaks, similar to those previously mentioned. 



" The ground in many places hereabouts is very rough, and encumbered with masses of 

 decayed and decaying timber, above which shoot very tall firs much mixed with black poplar. 

 We found in the remains of an old birch the nest of Parus cristatus, my attention being first 

 drawn to the tree by the uneasiness of the birds. On examining it more narrowly a hole was 

 apparent, about the size of a penny, newly made, and within reach from the ground. I cut it 

 open easily with a pocket-knife, and found young ones almost ready for flying ; the crest was 

 very strongly developed. After being fully inspected, they were restored to the tree, and the 

 hole made up. Further on in this direction was a marsh with much underwood, said to contain 

 Cranes, though none were seen or heard. The chief feature, however, hereabout is the Hackspett 

 (Picus major), which is numerous, and has a great partiality for the black poplar, here so abun- 

 dant. The number of old holes bored in these trees is surprising. It is very possible also that 

 Picus medius may have its share in this work, though I could not say with certainty that an 

 example of that species came under our notice. The woodman, however, told me that he knew 

 two or three kinds of the Hackspett ; but unquestionably Picus major is the most numerous here. 

 Two inhabited nests were discovered ; in one of these the cries of the young were plainly heard, 

 so that we were spared the trouble of cutting it open. 



" Suddenly the attention of the party was arrested by the unmistakable cry of a Spilkraka. 

 We continued to pursue the direction of the welcome sound until we arrived at a part of the 

 forest not very far from the reported Crane-marsh, containing several tall poplars mixed with 

 pine and fir. There both the birds were seen ; but as there were several old holes, though none 

 of this year's making, we scattered about in different directions, and then stopped to watch. 

 After waiting for about an hour, one of the birds, which had evidently slipped in unobserved 

 since our first sighting them, was seen to come out of a hole, by myself and two others, all from 

 different points. We sprang up simultaneously, the alarm was given, and in a very short time 

 the entire party was standing under the tree — a straight poplar, not far short of a hundred feet 

 in height, and destitute of any thing that could fairly be called a branch, its upper parts being in 



