346 



THE D( IWNY WOODPECKER. 



follows and flits along the fence from post to post as long as he can keep 

 his friends in sight, or else he takes to the mullein stalks himself. 



In moving from place to place Downy gives a characteristic pink, and 

 less frequently a rattling call, which is an exact imitation of that of the Hairy 

 Woodpecker. It is at times difficult to distinguish either the single notes 

 or the longer calls, but while the notes of the smaller bird are usually much 

 less in volume and strength, they have a rather more nasal quality. All 

 Woodpeckers have also a sort of signal system, or Morse code, consisting 

 of sundry tattoos on resonant wood. These calls are used principally, or 



h^J 



exclusively, during the mating season, and consist in the case of the Downy 

 of six or seven taps in regular and moderate succession. 



Nesting is at inconsiderable heights, and both sexes assisl in excavation 

 «nd incubation. Partially decayed wood is selected, and an opening made 

 about an inch and a quarter in diameter. After driving straight in an inch 

 or two, the passage turns down and widens two or three diameters. At the 

 depth of a foot or so the crystal white eg.<js arc deposited <<n a neat bed of 

 fine chips. Incubation lasts twelve days, and the young are hatched about 

 the first of June. According to Dr. Jones a second brood i- sometimes 

 brought off in Tub-. 



