JUNE 131 



it may hew a way to the kernel. We notice that, with 

 each sounding blow, the nuthatch moves its whole body 

 like a hammer swinging on a pivot, and not its head 

 merely as the woodpecker does. 



Besides the "yaffle," to give the Green Woodpecker 

 its West Country name, the Pied Woodpecker may be 

 seen passing with dipping flight from tree to tree. 

 Alighting at the foot of an oak, it rapidly works its 

 way up, climbing by a series of jerks, assisted by the 

 support given by the stiff feathers of the tail. 



Meanwhile the smaller Barred Woodpecker moves 

 restlessly about amongst the tree-tops, and the little 

 Tree Creeper, a woodpecker in miniature, creeps 

 spirally upwards over trunk and branches. Oaks 

 hold out another attraction to small birds, for they 

 abound in nest-holes. These, when dry, well situated 

 and of the right dimensions, are never untenanted, — 

 in fact the competition for them is keen, tenancies 

 are short and evictions frequent. In one case, the 

 same hole was occupied successively by nuthatches, 

 wrynecks, starlings and two species of tit. Another, 

 no doubt in bird view, " an attractive flat with all 

 modern conveniences," was the home in successive 

 seasons of great-tits, starlings, robins and tree 

 creepers. 



Ancient oaks are often hollow as chimneys and are 

 then the favourite resort of Jackdaws, which carry 

 in quantities of sticks and drop them until they at 



