192 GRAY LADY AND THE BIRDS 
same sound came, when he traced it to a Flicker, ham- 
mering away at one of the stout oaken staves of which 
the tank was made. 
“Thinking that the bird was trying an impossible task, 
he continued about his work, but, after the hammering 
had continued for several days, his suspicions were aroused, 
the tank was examined, and two holes were found, 
drilled entirely through the stave, which, in spite of 
appearances, was unsound and would, probably, have given 
out without warning at some inconvenient season when 
repairs would have cut off the water supply. 
“‘ Always deal kindly with the Flicker, and never make 
the mistake of confusing it with the Sapsucker; look for 
the white spot on the rump and the yellow wing-linings, and 
you will know it, and, though the young of the year lack 
these marks at first, they have no yellow upon their 
breasts that can excuse you for making a mistake. 
MR. FLICKER WRITES A LETTER 
People: 
Tell me where you scare up 
Names for me like “ Flicker,” “ Yarup,” 
“High-hole,” “ Yucker,” “ Yellowhammer” — 
None of these are in my grammar — 
“‘Piquebois jaune”? (Woodpick yellow), 
So the Creoles name a fellow. 
Others call me ‘‘ Golden-wings,” 
“Clape,”’ and twenty other things 
That I never half remember, 
Any summer till September. 
Many names and frequent mention 
Show that I receive attention, 
