lo4 The Wjlson Bulletin, No. 72-73. 



the strongest of the Flickers : they made no effort to swallow 

 until the hairpin, to the length of an inch or more, had been 

 thrust down their throats ; upon this they would suck vigor- 

 ously with a loud smacking noise; but even then it 'was an 

 onerous task to feed them, for earthworms, even when decap- 

 itated, are very sensitive about the order of their going, and 

 positively refuse to back down a young Flicker's throat. 



This year the young of the brood were named from the color 

 of the cotton string each wore upon its left foot as a distin- 

 guishing mark. A'ery briefly the history of raising little Red- 

 foot from death's door is this: After a long hard struggle in 

 the feeding of the first worms it was sufficiently nourished to 

 be returned to the nest, still it stood slight chance in the con- 

 test against the stronger ones. In this disadvantage Grayfoot, 

 the other twin, shared : therefore the other nestlings were fre- 

 quently taken from the nest and fed earthworms giving the 

 twins opporttmities to gain tlic whole meal. Later a better 

 scheme was devised ; by introducing a hand into the nest Red- 

 foot was held in readiness for the return of Father Flicker, 

 and by offering Redfoot's mouth to him first, the little one re- 

 ceived all it could take. From extra attention through six days 

 Redfoot made such rapid growth that it was able thereafter 

 to hold its own, and the figures of the record show that as far 

 as weight is a requisite it went forth into the world as well pre- 

 pared as any. 



On the warm, pleasant day following that of the successful 

 resuscitation of Redfoot both twins had received extra feedings 

 from the father, and could hold on to the bill like little leeches ; 

 after the daily weighing they were occupying the nest by them- 

 selves for a few minutes, when the mother came in. If alien- 

 ists were called in to pass judgment upon what followed T am 

 sure they would pronounce it a case of "brainstorm." Cer- 

 tainly it bordered on the extraordinary; probably there was a 

 shock to the mother's nervous system caused by the absence of 

 the rest of the brood, however it may have been she very rough- 

 ly shook the twins about as they held tightly to her bill ; then 



