THE PIED FLYCATCHER 57 



climbing, up to it, I espied four light blue eggs 

 resting within and a httle below the orifice, 

 which, however, did not permit of the passage 

 of my hand. There was nothing to be done 

 without tools ; I therefore determined to 

 return next day duly provided with chisel and 

 mallet. The place was a preserve, and not 

 being particularly anxious to be caught by the 

 keeper, I did not return till evening. On 

 again " swarming " up the stump I noted 

 several holes below the one containing the 

 nest, evidently the work of the barred wood- 

 pecker. Arriving at the top, I beheld the four 

 light-blue eggs as before, but on getting to 

 work found the job more difficult than I had 

 anticipated on account of there being no sup- 

 port for my feet, consequently the cutting out 

 business was slow and exhausting. In the 

 meanwhile, it was getting dark, so that I was 

 obliged to give up for that day ; however, I 

 had succeeded in opening out the hole to some 

 extent. After cUmbing the tree on the follow- 

 ing day I was surprised, and at the same time 

 greatly disappointed, on finding the nest con- 

 tained only one egg, along with some chips 

 which had fallen through during the previous 

 day's work. 



This Q^^, however, I was determined to 

 have, and in due course extracted it intact. 



