WOODPECKERS 120 



nape, which is lacking with the female. They 

 are about seven inches long. 



The Downy is much oftener seen in the open 

 country about the lawns and parks of the city, 

 in the shade trees and orchards of the farm. 

 His gentle call, '' peek^ peek,'^ softer and more 

 pleasing, is a common sound in the springtime, 

 and is closely associated with his tapping which 

 consists of a long, continuous roll, very rapidly 

 executed on some dry, resonant limb, and audible 

 at considerable distance. This is his love note, 

 and that it is effective in securing a mate is 

 evidenced by the numerous families of young 

 Downies that will make their whereabouts 

 known to you by their almost continuous 

 squeaking cries for food as you make y^our way 

 about second-growth woods in late June. Since 

 they, too, are skillful wood cutters, the nest- 

 ing habits of the Downy are almost identical 

 with those of the Hairy. The eggs are usually 

 six in number. 



The Downy is a more social fellow than his 

 larger cousin, being often seen in company with 

 Chickadees, Nuthatches and Brown Creepers. 

 He, too, is a great friend of the farmer, since he 

 searches out and destroys countless eggs and 

 grubs of insect pests. The larger part of the 

 tattooing seen on the trunks of old apple trees 

 is Downy's work, but instead of its being an 

 injury to the tree it is positive proof that he has 

 been doing his duty iri protecting the tree from 

 its too numerous enemies. Farmers are coming 

 to appreciate the value of these little assistants, 

 and now look upon them with approving eye. 



