194 GRAY LADY AND THE BIRDS 
Eggs we number five to nine, 
Pearly white with finish fine. 
On our nest we sit by turns, 
So each one a living earns; 
Though I think I sit the better, 
When she wishes to, I let ’er! 
FLICKER. 
— GarretrT NEwEIRK, in Bird-Lore. 
“Then, last and least in size, but chief in importance 
among the tree-trunk birds, come the little Downy Wood- 
peckers, only as big as the Tree-sparrow or Winter Chippy, 
as it is called, plump, all neatly patterned in black and 
white, a scarlet band on the back of the neck, while Mrs. 
Downy and the children lack even this bit of colour. 
You cannot mistake this Woodpecker for any other, for 
his big brother the Hairy Woodpecker, who has somewhat 
similar markings, is almost as big as a Robin, besides being 
a more timid bird of the woods that does not come about 
houses like the confiding and cheerful Downy. The Hairy 
Woodpecker has a more harsh and screaming call-note 
than the clear, sharp cry of the Downy. In watching 
birds, you should remember to keep the ears open and 
trained to hearing as well as the eye to seeing, asa bird that 
keeps too far away for the sight may oftentimes be recog- 
nized by its note. 
“The Downy’s life is spent in the tree-trunks and 
hollow limbs, where he merely chisels his doorway 
large enough, but with not a bit to spare, and the 
hole within is nicely finished with a few soft chips by 
way of a bed for the eggs; nice white eggs like all the 
Woodpeckers, and this would seem to prove that thrifty 
