Bird Study 71 



of male downies fight for hours at a time, but their duel was of the French 

 brand, much fuss and no bloodshed. They advanced upon each other 

 with much haughty glaring and scornful bobs of the head, but when they 

 were sufficiently near to stab each other they beat a mutual and circum- 

 spect retreat. Although we hear the male downies drumming every 

 spring, I doubt if they are calling for new wives; I believe they are, in- 

 stead, calling the attention of their lawful spouses to the fact that it is 

 time for nest building to begin. I have come to this conclusion because 

 the downies and hairies which I have watched for years have always come 

 in pairs to partake of suet during the entire winter; and while only one at 

 a time sits at meat and the lord and master is somewhat bossy, yet they 

 seem to get along as well as most married pairs. 



The downy's nest is a hole, usually in a partly decayed tree; an old 

 apple tree is a favorite site and a fresh excavation is made each year. 

 There are from four to six white eggs, which are laid on a nice bed of chips 

 as fine almost as sawdust. The door to the nest is a perfect circle and 

 about an inch and a quarter across. 



The hairy woodpecker is fully one-third larger than the downy, 

 measuring nine inches from tip of beak to tip of tail, while the downy 

 measures only about six inches. The tail feathers at the side are white 

 for the entire length, while they are barred at the tips in the downy. 

 There is a black "parting" through the middle of the red patch on the 

 back of the hairy's head. The two species are so much alike that it is 

 difficult for the beginner to tell them apart. Their habits are very 

 similar, except that the hairy lives in the woods and is not so commonly 

 seen in orchards or on shade trees. The food of the hairy is much like 

 that of the downy and it is, therefore, a beneficial bird and should be 

 protected. 



LESSON XIV 



THE DOWNY WOODPECKER 



Leading thought The downy woodpecker remains with us all winter, 

 feeding upon insects that are wintering in crevices and beneath the bark 

 of our trees. It is fitted especially by shape of beak, tongue, feet and tail 

 to get such food and it is a "friend in need" to our forest, shade and 

 orchard trees. 



Methods If a piece of beef fat be fastened upon the trunk or branch 

 of a tree, which can be seen from the schoolroom windows, there will be 

 no lack of interest in this friendly little bird; for the downy will sooner 

 or later find this feast spread for it and will come every day to partake. 

 Give out the questions, a few at a time, and discuss the answers with the 

 pupils. 



Observations i. What is the general color of the downy above and 

 below? The color of the top of the head? Sides of the head? The 

 throat and breast? The color and markings of the wings? Color and 

 markings of the middle and side tail-feathers? 



2. Do all downy woodpeckers have the red patch at the back of the 

 head? If not, why? 



3. What is the note of the downy? Does it make any other sound? 

 Have you ever seen one drumming? At what time of the year? On 

 what did it drum ? What did it use for a drumstick? What do you sup- 

 pose was the purpose of this music? 



