248 Sketches of Some Common Birds. 



When the severe weather comes from the cold northwest, 

 and the driving snow and sleet advise the little downy 

 that he must have comfortable quarters for the night, he 

 slips into his snug winter bed and sleeps sheltered from 

 the bitter blasts. 



With the oj^ening of spring the downy woodpeckers 

 become more settled in their ways and are seldom seen in 

 the towns, retiring into the woods and secluded groves to 

 rear their broods. Usually they have suitable homes 

 already prepared ; but if the females have decided prefer- 

 ences of their own, and desire to live in new habitations 

 of their own architecture, the construction of a new cavity 

 is not a difficult matter for such skillful builders. They 

 work by turns at the excavation, the male hammering 

 for ten or fifteen minutes, and then sweeping away into 

 the woods to seek the female, who comes immediately to 

 relieve her mate. A few moments may be spent in gal- 

 lantry and caresses, and then the second labors in turn, 

 while the other flies away for luncheon and refreshment. 

 The work on the new cavities is commenced about the mid- 

 dle of April, and complements of eggs are found from the 

 first to the middle of May. The site of the nest is not 

 often above twenty feet, and seldom less than ten feet 

 from the ground. There are usually five, sometimes only 

 four, and rarely six eggs in the complement. Like the 

 eggs of all the woodpeckers, they are crystal white, 

 averaging .^5 by .60 of an inch. The woodpeckers make 

 no nests in the cavities they use, but deposit their eggs 

 on the bare wood or on the fine chips in the bottom 

 of the recess. 



As becomes a personage of his activity and intelligence, 

 the downy woodpecker sets a bountiful and well assorted 

 table. In the spring and early summer he dines chiefly on 

 fresh meat, selected with his own careful and nice dis- 

 crimination. In the late summer and fall he partakes 

 of the small fruits growing wild throughout his domains; 

 however, he has never been accused of entering the 

 premises of his neighbors in search of dessert. He fre- 

 quently breakfasts with the red-headed woodpecker, tow- 

 hee, robin, and catbird, in their wild cherry trees and 

 grapevines, and with the flicker he dines on the berries 



