168 KNOWING BIRDS THROUGH STORIES 



of the upper parts of the body is a golden brown with a 

 white rump. There is a red streak on the back of the head, 

 and the belly is whitish, spotted, and marked with black. 



They are jolly, saucy fellows^ flitting about, chasing each 

 other from tree to tree, and giving utterance to a "whick- 

 ety, whickety, whickety, whick/' Then one will call 

 "Keeler'^ once or twice, and away he goes to another tree. 

 You can recognize a woodpecker from any other bird from 

 the fact that he perches on the side of trees and large limbs, 

 uses his tail for a prop, and every little while pecks the 

 wood. The bill is strong and sharp so that it cuts the wood 

 easily. The head is rather large and the neck strong, 

 which gives great power for pecking. The tongue is sharp, 

 pointed, and barbed so that it can easily be stuck into a 

 bole and made to pierce a grub and draw it out. They 

 peck wood largely in order to get the grubs which are liv- 

 ing in it. These grubs are much liked by these birds, are 

 a welcome addition to their food in winter, and together 

 with ants and bugs are the principal food in summer. I 

 have never been able to decide just how a woodpecker 

 knows where a grub is located, but I do know that they 

 do not peck wood just anywhere but in some way locate a 

 grub before they begin pecking. On the other hand they 

 tap here and there, possibly listening for a hollow sound 

 before making a hole. Some of the small woodpeckers, 

 however, make a great many holes in trees, pecking just 

 deeply enough to draw the sap. "We are told that they 

 drink the sap as it oozes out, but this is not their only 

 reason for wishing the sap to run. They learned long ago 

 how to sugar for insects. 



"When I am collecting moths, butterflies, and other in- 

 sects I sometimes mix a preparation of sugar sirup and 



