196 



BIRDS. 



Woodpeckers have often proved a nuisance to telegraph- 

 poles, into which they peck, deceived by the humming of 

 the wires into the belief that insects lurk within ; and 

 there is even an American species that uses these poles for 

 its winter stores of nuts. 



The nesting-hole, larger than those of the others and 

 somewhat more perfectly circular, is made by the bird, 



I 



,^S^fy'>^-j^ 



and, after running straight into the tree, turns abruptly 

 downwards to a wider cavity, Avherein the eggs repose on 

 the sawdust and chips that have accumulated there. J'^gffs, 

 5 to 7, I ^ inch ; creamy white. 



[Several other woodpeckers — Americans for the most 

 part — have been included in the British list, but all on 

 unsatisfactory evidence.] 



