26 



rather difficult to describe. It sounds to me like " oe " uttered 

 twelve or thirteen times rather quickly in the same key, then a 

 long pause, then off again. 



The gardeners at " The Cedars " heard one calling this 

 year (1903) on 1st May. 



44. — Lesser Spotted Woodpecker (Dendrocopus Minor). 



We often see and hear this pretty little bird in " The 

 Cedars' " grounds. On 19th April, 1896, I watched a pair for a 

 long time. They were playing a sort of " hide and seek." 



45. — Green Woodpecker (Picus Viridis). 



On the railway side of the pond, in an old birch, is cer- 

 tainly an old hole made by P. Viridis. Still stranger, there 

 appears to be one now (27th May, 1903,) being made in the same 

 tree, and, strangest of all, H. Leibenrood is certain he saw one 

 hammering away in the wood at "West Lodge" on 10th May, 

 1903. 



46. — Kingfisher (Alcedo Ispida). 



I think this lovely little bird is more than a winter visitor 

 to " The Cedars' " pond, though I have never been able to locate 

 its nest. 



On 19th December, 1898, Harry Witherby told me our 

 usual pair had been shot, and were being set up by a local tax- 

 idermist. I was unable to trace the offender, but fortunately, 

 on 19th July, 1899, saw two more that had taken up the vacant 

 quarters. 



Mr. Webster says a pair often visits the pond, in Greenwich 

 Park, fishing quietly from the overhanging branches, and then 

 fly back with their prey to " The Cedars' " pond. This confirms 

 my opinion of their nesting with us. 



47. — Cuckoo (Cuculus Canorns). 



A regular summer visitant to " The Cedars," though, un- 

 fortunately, we hear less and less of it every succeeding year. I 

 think 18th April, 1895, is the earliest recorded in my diary, 

 although every year they appear about that date. 



On 10th May, 1901, I saw one flying across our field, and 

 calling out " cuck, cuck, cuck " very loud. This call I always 



