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Like the woodpecker, this interesting little bird runs 

 with ease up and down the trunk searching for insects and 

 their larvce, which form a portion of its food. Berries and 

 nuts are, however, also eaten, and it is interesting to watch 

 the bird fasten the nut or acorn in a chink of the bark, and 

 crack it by repeated strokes of the bill. 



In my own garden I once saw a flock of long-tailed tits 

 {Paris caudatus), where they remained for several hours ; 

 while the common wren is plentiful, as also the fly-catcher, red 

 breast, starling, and hedge accentor. For four years past the 

 pied wagtail (Motacella Yarrelle) has reared its young by the 

 base of an ivy-covered oak in the Park ; and from the frequent 

 visits paid by the yellow wagtail (Motacella flava) to my 

 croquet ground — often several times in an evening — I am 

 inclined to think that it also nests in the Park. To the 

 deer-park and Ranger's grounds the Cuckoo often pays a 

 visit ; but I have seen no young birds. The sedge warbler 

 has also been observed ; and on several occasions I have seen 

 the stonechat flying about in the deer enclosure. Swallows 

 breed annually in the old barn and deer- sheds, but the swift 

 and sand martin can only be recorded as occasional visitors. 



The blackbird, song-thrush, and missel-thrush all breed 

 regularly, the latter having for three successive seasons 

 reared its young in the paddock attached to the deer-park. 

 Once, and only once, have I seen the lark alight in the 

 Park, and once the hawfinch and nightingale. 



Four species of tit — the great tit, blue tit, marsh 

 tit, and long-tailed tit — are not at all uncommon, the two 

 former having nested near the Blackheath entrance last 

 spring. The golden-crested wren (Rigukis cristatus) I have 

 seen more than once. 



Animals. — As might be expected, animals are not 

 abundant in the Park, this being due in great measure to 

 the high wall with which it is surrounded. 



The rabbit, rat, common doormouse, and field-mouse 

 are abundant ; while the bat is to be seen at any time during 

 not too severe weather. 



The long-eared bat breeds regularly in a hollow oak 

 in the deer-park, and the vole, or short-tailed water-rat, 

 occasionally puts in an appearance. Hedgehogs have been 

 introduced. Fish comprise the carp, perch, pike, roach, 

 goldfish (introduced), and stickle-back. 



