SAPSUCKERS AND THEIR GUESTS. 145 



then went to tlie brandy cup. She drank six 

 times, then went out on the limb and presently 

 began shaking her head violently, showering 

 drops from her beak in every direction until she 

 had thrown up what I estimated to be two tea- 

 spoonfuls of liquid. She flew away eastward, but 

 soon returned and remained until 9.30, when she 

 flew north " as for a long trip." 



I then hurried to Orchard No. 2 and remained 

 there from 10.07 until 11.15. On some of the 

 trees at this orchard a thick growth of small 

 sucker branches was conspicuous just below the 

 drills. I think it was caused by them. It served 

 as a screen for the sapsuckers. During this 

 hour three woodpeckers were at work dipping, 

 and occasionally catching some of the numerous 

 insects of which the air was full. Seven visits 

 were paid by humming-birds. One of the trees 

 in use by the woodpeckers, hummers and in- 

 sects was a red oak. The drills in it were very 

 small and round. At 11.15, I went into a large 

 swamp to the east of Orchards 1 and 2 in search 

 of fresh evidence. After walking a quarter of 

 a mile, I paused and hooted like a barred owd. 

 A young sapsucker promptly appeared, and a 

 moment later a humming-bird, which alighted 

 close to the woodpecker. Seeing no owl, the 

 humming-bird flew off towards the point from 

 which the sapsucker had come. I followed and 



