56 WILD LIFE IN THE TREE TOPS 



As it turned out — ^though whether or no results were due to the tree-swaying 

 idea it is impossible to say — ^the woodpeckers did overlook my presence ; for 

 soon their excited alarm cries changed from the angry ' chak ' to a lower and 

 more liquid ' quip,' much hke that of a sparrow-hawk when she calls in a subdued 

 way to her young ; and in less than ten minutes, I saw one of them settle on 

 a branch of the home tree, and hesitate for a while as though half expecting 

 that something fearful would occur. 



Needless to say, I was much relieved that things had taken such a turn 

 for the better, but perhaps was even more deeply concerned with the manner 

 in which she took perch. For I had never before seen a woodpecker sitting thus 

 — crosswise on the branch like an ordinary perching bird — ^and had believed 

 that their invariable habit was to chng to the side of the tree, or branch — as 

 indeed is the usual fashion with woodpeckers. 



Presently she hopped to the trunk, at a point some four or five feet below 

 the nesting-hole, and supported by her stiff tail feathers, commenced to chmb 

 upwards in a series of spasmodic jerks towards the protruding head that was 

 chittering so anxiously above her. 



The process of transferring food from her own beak to that of the young 

 seemed to be particularly energetic and rapid^ — a series of incredibly swift 

 jabs — of which the youngsters must have been quick to avail themselves. When 

 this particular member of the family was temporarily satisfied, he silently 

 withdrew into the depths of his home, and so made room for another, which 

 lost no time in protruding an expectant head= — ^all eagerness for the next con- 

 signment of food. 



During that morning no less than six photographs of the Woodpecker 

 at the nest were seciu'cd ; so that a considerable number of journeys up and 

 down the tree, that the camera might be re-arranged, had to be undertaken. 



Such constant friction had succeeded in wearing off the loose bark, and 

 the trunk of the tree had become exceedingly slippery. My difficulties were 

 added to by the fact that for some distance there were no branches to help 

 me, and the last climb found me almost despairing of being able to reach the 

 camera at all ! 



Three days later I again visited the wood, and making my way through 

 the dense bracken towards the woodpecker tree, listened anxiously in the 

 hope of hearing the young ones. I found, however, on reaching the tree, that 

 they had all flown, and since it seemed hopeless to expect to see any more of 

 the family, I decided to give up the idea of trying for further records. I was 

 accordingly preparing to leave the place when I was startled by an unmistakable 

 ' chip ' which seemed to come from a tree some 30 yards away. Walking 

 stealthily towards the point from which I judged that the sound issued, I 

 saw one of the young woodpeckers fly quietly from the trunk of one tree to 

 the next, and disappear behind it ! 



