142 



the balance between good and evil is in its favour, for although it eats 

 some fruit, May beetles or June bugs and weevils form a large part of its 

 food. It has been accused of eating fruit and without doubt the charges 

 have some foundation, but careful study has shown that these cases are 

 local and confined to limited areas and perhaps to certain individuals. 



409. Red-bellied Woodpecker, fr. — le pic Dfc la Caroline. Centurus carolinus. 

 L, 9-50. Entire back and upperparts sharply and regularly barred with black and white. 

 Whole back of neck to shoulder and, in the male, the top of head, bright red. All re- 

 mainder and below ashy white with slight olive tinge. Abdomen shghtly tinged with red. 



Distinctions. The even barring of the whole back and the red colour of the crown 

 and rear neck are eisily distinguished. 



Distribution. From the gulf coast to northern United States, occurring as a straggler 

 to the north of the boundary in southern Ontario. 



This Woodpecker is of rare and local occurrence in Canada. Its 

 economic status is good although it is fond of wild fruit and occasionally 

 turns its attention to cultivated varieties. 



412. Flicker, golden-winged woodpecker, highhole, highholder, yellow- 

 hammer. FR. — le pic dore. Colaptes auratus. L, 12. Plate XX B. 



Distinction. A large Woodpecker with the under surface of the wings and tail bright 

 yellow. 



Field Marks. General Woodpecker-Uke actions; size; yellow underwing surfaces 

 and white rump conspicuous in flight. 



Nesting. Nests in holes excavated in dead stubs, usually in the open, rarely if ever 

 in dense woods. The pecuUar inter-relation of distinct species is well illustrated by this 

 bird. Its deserted nesting-holes are made use of by many other species which are incap- 

 able of excavating their own. Sparrow Hawks, Tree Swallows, Crested Flycatchers, 

 and some other useful species are thus directly dependent upon Woodpeckers, especially 

 Flickers, for nesting sites. There are many other such cases in nature of interdepen- 

 dence; some are obvious and well known, some we surmise, and others may be that we 

 do not and cannot at present even suspect. This is a cogent reason for caution in disturb- 

 ing the established order of nature. 



Distribution. The FUcker in its various subspecies is distributed all over eastern 

 North America, north to the tree limits. It breeds wherever found in Canada. 



SUBSPECIES. The Flicker is divided into several subspecies, the eastern Canadian 

 variety being known as the Northern Fhcker C. a. luteus. 



The most familiar of the Woodpeckers to the general public, as is 

 indicated by the great number of vernacular names that have been appplied 

 to it; only the principal ones are given above. The loud ^^ Flicker, flicker, 

 flicker" , of the male and the piercing ^'Peiu-u" of both sexes are well 

 known and easily recognized sounds. Though a true Woodpecker the 

 Flicker is a pronounced ground feeder and is especially fond of ants, of 

 which its food is often largely composed. It delights to cling to a hollow 

 reverberating tree trunk and beat out rattling tattoos that can be heard 

 for great distances. This noise seems to be made as a call to its mate 

 or may sometimes be from pure exuberance of spirits. The reproductive 

 powers of the Flicker are phenomenal. By taking away the eggs as they 

 are laid it has been known to lay thirty or more in a season. It seems 

 to be able to keep up the deposition until the set is completed. 



Economic Stahis. Ants constitute nearly half the food of the Flicker. 

 The remainder of its insect food consists of both beneficial and harmful 

 species, but the latter noticeably predominate. It takes some fruit, 

 grain, and mast; but on the whole must be considered to be beneficial 

 rather than harmful. Perhaps the worst charge that can be made against 



