168 FROM BLOMIDON TO SMOKY. 



dish they crowded around it, and all three drank 

 at once. They consumed more than a tablespoon- 

 ful of the diluted syrup between 7 and 11 A. M. 

 Ordinarily they disposed of eight teaspoonfuls 

 each during the twenty-four hours. Part of this 

 evaporated, and part was probably secured by 

 black ants which visited the cage by night. On 

 August 25, I did not give the young woodpeck- 

 ers any syrup until late in the day. Then I of- 

 fered syrup and insects at the same time. They 

 ignored the insects and drank long and often of 

 the liquid. Later they ate the insects. I kept 

 a dish of water in their cage all the time, but 

 they were seldom seen to drink from it. 



On September 4, I placed the woodpeckers' 

 cage in a finished room in the barn and opened 

 their door to see what they would do with lim- 

 ited libert}". Number Three showed the effects 

 of former freedom by coming first to the door- 

 way and perching in it. After a moment. One 

 flew out past her and bumped against the win- 

 dow pane. Ten minutes elapsed before Two 

 came out. Then they flew back and forth from 

 window to looking-glass, curtains to woodwork. 

 I handled them freely, and they seemed to have 

 no feeling of fear. They clung to my fingers, 

 and perched upon my shoulders. All the inte- 

 rior finish interested them, and they hammered 

 wood and glass, paint and plaster with vehe- 



