TREE-TRUNK BIRDS 183 
“Woodpeckers do,” cried Tommy and Dave, together. 
“Yes, and there’s another bird, little and brown and 
striped, that’s only here in winter and goes up and down 
all over the tree-trunks. I saw one this morning when 
I was coming up,” said Sarah, “and I guess Chickadees 
can go upside down, too, for I saw one hanging on to 
a fir cone yesterday, and it was head down.” 
Gray Lady laughed. ‘You all doubtless think that 
all these other birds climb like the Nuthatch, but this 
is a case of wrong seeing, which is simply another form 
of not really paying attention; for not one of them 
walks upside down in the same way. Hear what one of 
our poets says of this: — 
TO A NUTHATCH 
Shrewd little hunter of woods all gray, 
Whom I meet on my walk of a winter day, 
You’re busy inspecting each cranny and hole 
In the ragged bark of yon hickory bole; 
You, intent on your task, and I, on the law 
Of your wonderful head and gymnastic claw! 
The Woodpecker well may despair of this feat — 
Only the fly with you can compete. 
So much is clear; but I fain would know 
How you can so reckless and fearless go, 
Head upward, head downward, all one to you, 
Zenith and nadir the same to your view. 
— Epiru M. Tuomas, in Bird-Lore. 
Even the woodpeckers, supplied, as they are, with a reversed 
toe and a stiff, supporting tail, cannot compete with the Nut- 
hatches in descending head first. The Woodpecker, in going down 
the trunk, finds itself in the same predicament as the bear, — 
