8 BIRDS OF LA PLATA 



agricola. Like that bird, though not to the same 

 extent, it has diverged from the typical Piddx 

 in its habits, alighting sometimes on the ground 

 to feed, and also frequently perching crosswise on 

 branches of trees. It has a powerful, clear, abrupt, 

 and oft-repeated note, and a rapid undulating 

 flight. 



The following interesting account of its breeding 

 habits appears in a paper by Mr. Gibson : " The ex- 

 cavation for the nest is begun as early as September ; 

 but the eggs are only laid during the first half of 

 October. The hole is generally commenced where 

 some branch has decayed away ; but care is taken 

 that the remainder of the tree is sound. It opens 

 at a height of from six to nine feet from the ground, 

 and is excavated to a depth of nearly a foot. Occasion- 

 ally it is sufficiently wide to admit of one's hand, but 

 such is not always the case. No preparation is made 

 for the eggs beyond the usual lining of some chips 

 of wood. 



" The pair which frequented the garden excavated 

 a hole in a paradise-tree, and bred there for two 

 consecutive years. The tree stood near one of the 

 walks, and on any one passing the sitting bird imme- 

 diately showed its head at the aperture, like a jack- 

 in-the-box, and then flew away. Last year this pair 

 actually bred in one of the posts of the horse-corral, 

 notwithstanding the noise and bustle incident to such 

 a locality. While waiting there, at sunrise, for the 

 herd of horses to be shut in I used often to knock at 

 the post, in order to make the Woodpecker leave its 



