end somewhat disconnectedly in a peculiarly soft, musical • 
tone. Be also uttered a cry which I do not remember to have 
•. • • ■ -■ ' » 
heard before, a low, anxious wol or wo-a. a note of enquiry 
seemingly for it wrs invariably and instantly answered by 
a burst of elamor from the y ‘ung. Occasionally this wol ■ 
cry would fee given several times in succession and would 
then run directly into, the laughing cell. At the first 
rattle of their parent’a claws on the outer surface of the 
stump the young would appear at the top of their burrow and 
the five 'pirik-llned mouths would be opened, wide, all 
clamoring loudly for food, -fit raiding on the e ge of the 
hole / the parent would- select one—usually the nearest,, I 
thought — and bedding for.?- rd and 'down w uld drive his bill 
to its base into the -gaping- rsr uth which i istantly closed 
tightly around it, when the head end.bill of the parent 
was worked up and down-with great rapidity for from one to 
oneand one-half seconds (timed with a stop'watch), the young 
meanwhile. holding on. desperately, and apparently never once 
losing- its.grdsp, although.its poor little head was Jerked 
’ - . ----- downward 
up and'down most violently.' The first, or entering/thrust 
of the.- parent’s bill looked like ,a vicious stab, tire bird 
apparently striking with all its. force a id as if with the 
design of piercing hie offspring to the vitals. The sub- 
sequent up and down motion was invariably rapid and regular 
ar t d resembled the bill movement Of a Woodpecker while 
"drumming**. It also suggested the stroke of a piston. It 
was always accompanied by a marked, equally rapid and 
