Woodpeckers SONGLESS BIRDS. 



road, and one, wliicli I discovered from a tower window, on 

 the topmost brancli of a spruce some sixty feet from the 

 ground. In this last case the nest was covered with small 

 flakes of spruce bark, instead of the usual lichens. 



After the nesting the males make themselves exceedingly 

 scarce, while the females and young haunt the garden, 

 feeding in flocks, the young being distinguishable by their 

 dulness of plumage and the fact that they perch frequently. 

 All through August and early September, before cooling 

 nights warn them away, they dart through the mellow haze 

 claiming the last Jacque roses and the blossoms that con- 

 tinue to wreathe the honeysuckle, only leaving them when 

 the twilight chill stiffens their feathered mechanism. 



When the mild gold stars flower out, 



As the summer gloaming goes, 

 A dim shape quivers about 



Some sweet rich heart of a rose. 



******* 



Then you, by thoughts of it stirred, 



Still dreamily question them : 

 " Is it a gem, half bird. 



Or is it a bird, half gem ? " — Edgar Fawcett. 



ORDER PICI: WOODPECKERS, ETC. 



FAMILY PICID^: WOODPECKERS. 

 Hairy Woodpecker : Dryobates villosus. 



Plate VIII. Fig. 5. 



Length : 9-10 inches. 



Male and Female : Above black and white, white stripe on middle of 

 back, red stripe on head. Wings spotted and striped with 

 black and white, four outer tail feathers white. Under parts 

 grayish white. Bill blunt, stout, and straight, nearly as long as 

 head. Female lacks red spot on head. 



Note : A short, tapping sound. 



Season : Resident ; shifting about in light woods. 



Breeds : Through range. 



Nest : In holes in trees at moderate height. 



196 



