146 Land Birds of New England 



a tree at a moderate height above the ground. 

 Oaks, maples, and apple-trees are favorites ; and 

 the nest is ordinarily placed in the woods, or at 

 least not in an isolated tree. Eggs are laid in the 

 latter part of May. 



One of the most common cries consists of two 

 notes frequently repeated, which resemble some- 

 what the syllables, flicker, yucker, or yarrup, by all of 

 which names the bird is known. The spring-time 

 note " imitates a prolonged and jovial laugh, heard 

 at a considerable distance." -AUDUBON. 



LITERATURE : 



//; Nesting-Time. OLIVE THORNE MILLER. 

 Little Brothers of the Air. IBID. 



83. DOWNY WOODPECKER 



{Dry abates pnbescens.') 



A miniature edition of the hairy woodpecker, save that the outer 

 tail feathers, instead of being entirely white, are barred with 

 black. The scarlet patch is lacking in the female of this, as of 

 the larger species. The bird is about the size of a sparrow. 



THIS bird is our commonest woodpecker, and is 

 abundant not only in woods but in orchards. Save 

 in this respect, its habits, as well as its appearance, 

 agree with those of the hairy woodpecker (q. ?.'.). 

 There is no such difference in the character of the 

 plumage as the common names mi^ht imply. 



