7 8 Handbook of Nature-Study 



citizens, disturbed in their communal labors, at once bravely attack the 

 intruder and become glued fast tc it, and are thus withdrawn and trans- 

 ferred to the capacious stomach of the bird. It has been known to eat 

 three thousand ants at a single meal. 



Those who have observed the flicker during the courting season declare 

 him to be the most silly and vain of all bird wooers. Mr. Baskett says: 

 "When he wishes to charm his sweetheart he mounts a small twig near 

 her, and lifts his wings, spreads his tail, and begins to nod right and left as 

 he exhibits his mustache to his charmer. He sets his jet locket first on 

 one side of the twig and then on the other. He may even go so far as to 

 turn his head half around to show her the pretty spot on his back hair. 

 In doing all this he performs the most ludicrous antics and has the silliest 

 expression of face and voice as if in losing his heart, as some one phrases 

 it, he had lost his head also." 



The nest hole is quite deep and the white eggs are from four to ten in 

 number. The feeding of the young flickers is a painful process to watch. 

 The parent takes the food into its own stomach and partially digests it, 

 then thrusting its own bill down the throat of the young one it pumps the 

 soft food into it "kerchug, kerchug," until it seems as if the young one 

 must be shaken to its foundations. The young flickers as soon as they 

 leave the nest climb around freely on the home tree in a delightful, playful 

 manner. 



Flicker coming from the nest, 

 Photo by George Fiske, Jr. 



