372 



Bird - Lore 



Conrad Abbott; "Kee-yer, kee-yer, kee-yer, kee-yer," Chapman; "Yarup! yarup! 

 yarup-up-up-up-up!" Dallas Lore Sharp. Does anyone think that this Woodpecker sings? 

 In which does it excel, instrumental or vocal music? What kind of a musician might we 

 call it? (Drummer.) Investigate and describe its drum. (A hollow dead limb.) Some- 

 times it telegraphs a wireless message to its mate; at other times it is a sort of an anvil 

 solo, and quite frequently a duller beat in the search for food. Try to learn these sounds 

 in the Flicker's signal code. As we get nearer, let us make an effort to see some of the 

 Flicker's colors. (Black crescent on breast, golden shaft of quill feathers, and spotted 

 underparts.) In what position is the bird resting on the tree? (Perched on a limb or 

 clinging to the trunk.) Remember this is a Woodpecker, and most of its kind cling to 

 trees instead of perching. The class should observe the position of the tail (outer end 



braced against the trunk) and, 

 if possible, note character of 

 tail-feathers. (Sharp, pointed 

 ends). Of what use is such a 

 tail? (Acts as a prop.) Since 

 Mr. and Mrs. Flicker have not 

 set up housekeeping, we may 

 look in at the door. In what 

 kind of limb are they build- 

 ing? (Dead limb. Knock on 

 the limb with a stone.) Why? 

 (Because it is easier to dig out 

 the decaying particles of wood.) 

 Fathom the hole, to find how 

 far it extends. (One to three 

 feet.) What is the advantage of 

 so deep a hole? (To escape 

 enemies and better protect 

 inmates from the weather.) Let 

 the class look for places on the 

 tree where a Woodpecker has 

 been drilling. What was it after? 

 (Grubs.) We may call the 

 Flicker a tree surgeon. Why? 

 (The tree is the landlord and 

 Dr. Flicker pays rent to his 

 Treeship by removing undesir- 

 able insect visitors. These insect 

 lodgers do not pay rent and are 

 injurious to the health of the tree.) We have found that Dr. Flicker sometimes eats 

 things which reflect upon his good character, and at other times he eats things which 

 make him very useful. 



Lesson II. Indoor Observation. — Use stuffed specimens and pictures. The class 

 should collect illustrative material such as that shown in Figure i. The teacher may 

 exchange material with distant schools. The portion of a tree, for instance, illustrated 

 in Figure 2 came from the Pacific Coast. It shows the work of the California Wood- 

 pecker, a red-headed Woodpecker on the western edge of our continent, which drills 

 holes and stores acorns in them for future use. 



Review the field-trip, asking about the Flicker's flight, colors, home, call and food. 

 The class is now ready to make close observations, and to study some of the detailed 

 structures which fit the Woodpecker for its life, which has been observed in the field. 



Fig. 3. WORK OF SAPSUCKER AND OF DOWNY 

 WOODPECKER. AS FAR AS POSSIBLE MATERIAL 

 SHOULD BE COLLECTED BY PUPILS. 



