DENIZENS OF A BEECH GROVE 79 



woodpecker is an unusually wary bird (as its face suggests), and in consequence 

 of this fact, various cunning devices must be resorted to i f satisfactory results 

 are to be obtained. 



This woodpecker has a habit, it seems, of intuitively suspecting the where- 

 abouts of the observer, and having alighted against the far side of some branch 

 close at hand, spends some time in popping its head round the corner — in order 

 to carry out a short reconnaissance — and as suddenly withdrawing it. 



However, its suspicions being at length partially allayed, it next flies to 

 the home tree, usually settling so that the trunk comes between itself and the 

 observer, and whence, once more, its head intermittently appears. 



Presently it jumps sideways, and with a fluttering of its wings, climbs the 

 tree until it is about three feet below the nesting-hole, when with a movement 

 of the shoulders, neck, and head, which reminds one of an animal galloping, 

 it commences the series of upward leaps, the click of its claws as they strike 

 and hold to the bark being clearly audible. 



On arrival at the entrance to the nest, the woodpecker, having taken a 

 final look round, lowers her head and disappears inside to resume her duties 

 of brooding the glossy pinkish-white eggs, which are laid on the chips of wood 

 at the bottom of the hole. 



When, later on, there are young in the nest, their presence may easily be 

 determined by the uncanny and unique noise which issues, if the entrance be 

 tapped. Evidently it is their cry of expectancy and pleasure and, imagining 

 that their parent is about to give them food, they thus give vent to their feel- 

 ings. The noise is really very much like the distant shouting of a crowd at a 

 football match ! 



The parent woodpecker when visiting her young generaUy settles at a 

 point some few feet below the nest-hole, and climbs upwards until it is reached ; 

 her arrival being loudly acclaimed by the wheezing family. 



As the young develop, they learn to climb up the interior of the nesting 

 cavity, which is some 9 inches to 12 inches deep, to look out on to the world, 

 and incidentally to note the returning form of the food-laden parent : but 

 since the entrance to the hole is only large enough to accommodate the head 

 of one young woodpecker, they have, as it were, to take it in turns. 



Thus, if the head of number one should be protruding when the parent 

 returns with food, he will receive the whole consignment, and then retire into 

 the depths amongst the rest of the family whilst number two takes his place. 

 At this stage the cry of the young woodpeckers has also undergone considerable 

 change, for it is now a sort of subdued but much more definite intermittent 

 chattering. 



Occasionally both old woodpeckers will arrive at the nest simultaneously, 

 and one will then wait on one side until the other has delivered her consignment 

 of food. 



