of the discovery of some Nests of the Black Woodpecker. 271 
that day, and that the matter should stand over for the present; 
but the woodman said that he should return early in the morn¬ 
ing, and build a ladder on the spot sufficiently high to reach the 
“ Bo.” It was to be ready next day at noon, when all the party 
was to reassemble and assist in hoisting it. 
Comforted by this assurance, we returned to a neighbouring 
forest settlement. J ust at dusk, a man living near came and re¬ 
ported a “ Bo ” of the Spilkraka and another of the Hackspett. 
To the latter I proceeded immediately, but on cutting it open 
found three young ones half-fledged. 
Next morning an early start was made for the third Spil- 
kraka’s “ Bo,” reported the previous evening. It was situated 
in a much thicker part of the wood than either of the others. 
Indeed I am inclined to think, judging also from old nests, that 
this bird prefers to breed in the neighbourhood of some opening, 
whether caused by nature or the axe. The hole in this case was 
situated about halfway (20 feet perhaps) up a dead fir. Being- 
somewhat impatient on this occasion, I requested the man to fell 
the tree, which he did in the course of ten minutes, causing it to 
fall with wonderful accuracy against one of its neighbours which 
he had selected; but the weight was too great, and both came 
to the ground with an awful crash. On going up to the hole 
young ones were heard, but could not be reached without our 
further enlarging it. The cavity of this nest was an inch or two 
over two feet from the honeycombed roof to the base on which the 
young had rested ; these, together with much of the sawdust, had 
been thrown forward, but, singularly enough, though stunned, 
they were not killed by the concussion. Had there been eggs, 
they must, I think, have been broken to pieces. There was a 
considerable quantity of sawdust which had the appearance of 
sand, the particles being much finer than those of the nest in 
the birch-tree. Three birds were all the nest contained; they 
seemed to have been hatched about four days. As there was 
no hope now for them, they were put into spirits, and afterwards 
given with several others to my friend Mr. John Wolley, to 
whose suggestions the results of this expedition were chiefly due. 
The old birds did not exhibit the usual amount of anxiety; but 
just before we left, the female suddenly appeared and clung to 
