286 THE GOLDEN-WINGED WOODPECKER. 



smart raps upon the trunk brought a Golden-winged Woodpecker to the 

 aperture, to ascertain the cause of the disturbance below. Having eyed us 

 for a moment, he jerked himself out, and flew to the top of a neighbouring 

 tree, where, uttering a few shrill notes, he was immediately joined by his 

 mate, and both seemed anxiously to watch all our movements while we 

 remained near the cradle of their future progeny. By us the possession of 

 one of these beautiful birds had long been ardently desired, and we deter- 

 mined not to permit the present opportunity to pass unimproved. The 

 situation of the nest was therefore carefully marked, and we resolved to 

 return when the young birds should be fully fledged, and secure one at least 

 as our lawful prize. During the interval the nest was often visited, and 

 many plans were formed to effect our purpose, but when the period which 

 we supposed necessary had expired, we discovered with no little mortifica- 

 tion that the stump was too much decayed to be climbed with safety, and 

 too insecure to admit of any thing being applied to facilitate the ascent. To 

 overturn the nest was the only way then by which we could obtain the 

 object of our wishes. To effect this all our strength was exerted, so that we 

 soon had the satisfaction of seeing the stump yield, and eventually give way 

 with a heavy crash, by which it was broken into many pieces. Eager to 

 secure our prize, we hastened to the spot, but conceive our disappointment 

 when, instead of the full-fledged birds which we expected to obtain, a large 

 number of naked objects, apparently just out of the shell, some of them 

 scarcely half the size of others, and all with their eyes yet unopened, lay 

 scattered upon the ground. This was a result which we had never antici- 

 pated, and disappointment quickly yielded to strong feelings of compunction, 

 as we surveyed the poor sightless creatures writhing their necks and quiver- 

 ing under the severity of the shock. To repair the mischief, if possible, 

 the fragments of the nest were speedily gathered and neatly joined, and 

 having collected the brood for the purpose of replacing it, we were astonished 

 to find that the nest had contained the almost incredible number of eighteen 

 young birds, besides three eggs, which still remained unbroken, notwith- 

 standing the violence of the fall. For this singular instance of fecundity I 

 am wholly unable to account, unless by the supposition that, from the nest 

 being in the immediate vicinity of a public road, one of the birds had been 

 shot after the usual deposit of eggs had been made. The survivor having 

 procured another mate, an addition was made to the number of eggs, and 

 most probably from the same cause a third, ere the work of incubation com- 

 menced. The vigour of one of the parents being impaired may perhaps 

 explain the diversity of size, while the eggs which remained were probably 

 the first deposited, but in which the vital principle had become extinct ere 

 the last was laid. Perhaps it may be interesting to mention that our efforts 



