152 THe Birps Asout Us. 
observed his desultory ascent up some dead and lofty pine, tapping 
at intervals, and dodging from side to side, as he ascended in a spiral 
line; at length, having gained the towering summit, while basking 
in the mild sunbeams, he surveys the extensive landscape, and almost 
with the same reverberating sound as his blows, at intervals he utters 
a loud and solitary ’cus'rh in a tone as solemn as the tolling-of the 
Campanero. He thus hearkens, as it were, to the shrill echoes of 
his own voice, and for an hour at a time seems alone employed in 
contemplating, in cherished solitude and security, the beauties and 
blessings of the rising day.” 
Perhaps because it is not so “smart” a bird; pos- 
sibly because it has a good deal more common sense 
than other woodpeckers; but whether the one way 
or the other, the Golden-winged Flicker, or High- 
hole, means to hold his own in the land of his fathers, 

Flicker. 
mar it as much as civilization may. If there are no 
trees it will take to the fences, and if needs be, it can 
run over the ground a good deal faster than any boy 
can unless he has been some time in training. But 
