A YOUNG NATURALIST. 73 



slip, which also overwhelmed four or five Indian huts. In a year 

 from the present time, the wilderness of bare rocks that we see 

 before us will be again covered with thick vegetation ; mosses 

 will grow over these gray-coloured rocks, and the stream will 

 have renewed its course. If chance should ever lead us again 

 to tliis spot, the rich foliage and flowers would almost prevent our 

 recognising the desolation which now impresses us so much." 



I crossed the stream, in order to reach our bivouac by the 

 opposite bank to that which we had hitherto followed. Suddenly 

 a noise, like a mallet striking the trunk of a tree, attracted our 

 attention. 



" You told me just now there was no one but ourselves in the 

 forest," cried Lucien. 



" Chut ! " replied I'Encuerado ; " it is nothing but a large 

 woodpecker." 



And each of us glided under the bushes and tried to get near 

 the winged workman, who so loudly betrayed his presence. Ten 

 minutes elapsed, but all was silent, and the object of our search 

 appeared to iiave moved off. In fact, we were about to give 

 up the pursuit, when three blows, struck at regular intervals, 

 resounded near us. 



The Carpintero (carpenter), for such it is called in Mexico, has 

 very brilliant yellow eyes, red feathers upon the head, while the 

 body is dark coloured streaked with white. It climbs easily up 

 the trunks of trees, resting upon its tail-feathers. At length 

 we observed it, and as we looked admiring its plumage, it again 

 struck three resounding blows, and ran round the tree as if to 

 inspect the other side. 



" The fool ! " muttered I'Encuerado ; " he thinks he can pierce 

 a tree, as thick as my body, with three pecks of his beak ! He '11 

 soon be eaten." 



And he fired at the bird and hit it. 



" I say, papa, did the woodpecker really want to pierce this 



big tree 1 " 



" No, my boy ; that is a popular, but unfounded idea. The 

 woodpecker strikes the trees in order to frighten the insects that 

 are concealed under the bark, and the action, which I'Encuerado 



