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 wo 
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 no.t 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 a'dmit of anything 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 
