WOODPECKERS AND THEIR WAYS. 



345 



of other birds if there are any in the neighborhood. He is not afraid 

 of the cold, however, and may often be seen at sunset hard at work 

 on the exposed side of a tree, while the north wind ruffles up his 

 feathers and the frost makes the wood resound with reports like 

 pistol shots. But just as the last spark of sunlight dies out among 

 the tree tops he hurries off to his bedroom with an occasional shrill 

 chirrup for good night, and stows himself away for a good sixteen 

 hours of sleep. In May the pair construct a nesting hole in a dead 

 branch, usually well up tow^ard the top of the tree they have chosen. 

 They are less given to occupying the same nest for successive sea- 

 sons than are the flickers, and the abandoned holes, as well as their 

 winter apartments, serve excellently for nesting places for bluebirds 

 and tree swallows, and others of similar habits. During the heat of 

 summer their habits are the same as at other seasons, though they 

 keep more in the shadow of the 

 leaves, and rise earlier in the morn- 

 ing, doing a large part of their 

 sleeping at midday. 



The hairy woodpecker is much 

 larger and heavier than the downy, 

 but his color and markings are the 

 same, except that his outer tail 

 feathers are pure white, not barred 

 with black, as in the other species. 

 They are much less abundant than 

 formerly, some years being decid- 

 edly rare. Ten years ago, or even 

 less, they were often seen climbing 

 over woodpiles in farmyards on 

 sunny days in the winter. Their 

 habits are much like those of the 

 downy woodpecker, and their cries, 

 though louder, are rather similar. 

 There seems to be no special reason 

 why they should decrease in num- 

 bers, for they appear perfectly will- 

 ing to put up with the conditions of 

 a settled country, and are much less subject to the persecutions of the 

 youthful sportsman than are their larger cousins the flickers. 



The arctic three-toed woodpeckers are slightly larger, and are 

 peculiar in having dispensed entirely with the real hind toe, being 

 provided with only three toes on each foot, two before and one be- 

 hind. The males are easily distinguished by a square patch of yellow 

 on the back of the head. 



IvOKi'-BILLED WoODPECKER. 



