WOODPECKERS 135 



the open they are silent, but in the woods their 

 loud discordant screaming ^'kleur, kleur,^^ is oft 

 repeated. 



This is a very handsome bird. The crown and 

 throat of the male are deep scarlet; the back is 

 marked with black and yellowish-white bars. 

 The breast has a black crescent; otherwise the 

 under parts are light yellow. The wings and 

 tail are barred and spotted with black, and a 

 white line passes from the bill below the eye, 

 broadening on the neck. With the female the 

 throat is white, the crown often black; other- 

 wise her dress is the same. They nest from 

 Massachusetts northward. They are about 

 eight and one-half inches long. 



Flicker. This is a popular bird, for he is said 

 to be known under at least thirty-six different 

 names. The most common of these in the East 

 are Yellowhammer, Golden-winged Wood- 

 pecker, High-hole, Yarrup and Clape. He is a 

 vQivy handsome fellow, and a general favorite 

 with mankind. He possesses beautiful plumage, 

 gentle ways, attractive notes and interesting 

 habits, and is very tame. Often one comes 

 bounding into the trees about our house, and 

 sometimes they come quite close on the lawn. 

 So trustful and confident are they of man's 

 good intention toward them, in the South dur- 

 ing the winter I have been almost near enough to 

 reach them w^ith my hands. In the city parks 

 they are common, finding suitable nesting 

 places in tall trees there. Now, effort is being 

 made in many places to provide them with such 

 attractive homes that their numbers will increase. 



