THE DOWNY AND HAIRY WOODPECKERS 



TWO CARPENTER COUSINS 



Downy Woodpecker 

 {Figs, 26, 27) 



EITHER my curiosity nor interest 

 is aroused when I hear a man 

 hammer; but when the sound of 

 Downy's tap-tap-tap comes to my 

 ears I want to see him at work. 

 He may greet me with a single 

 word, *'peek" — as clear and business-like as the tap- 

 ping itself. To me it is a kind of code signal for 

 "good-morning, I'm really glad to see you, but if you 

 don't mind I'll go right on with what I'm doing 

 here." 



What he is doing is of importance to him and 

 mankind as well. He is getting his breakfast and 

 at the same time ridding the tree of a grub which 

 might have bored a channel through its heart. 



It is interesting to watch Downy hunting. He 

 seems to be merely hitching his way up the tree. 

 He taps here and there, picking out an insect's egg 



37 



