A LAUGHING FAMILY 



311 



were there last year, when they raised a brood, only 

 when the young ones came out they had gray heads 

 instead of red ones, and their wings were not cleiir 

 white like this one's, nor their 

 backs so shiny black — is that 

 right, Doctor ? " 



" Yes, my boy, and it sIioays you 

 know how to use your eyes, for 

 young Red-heads look very differ- 

 ent from their parents till they 

 get a new suit. You remember 

 that we called the Bluebird the 

 Flag Bird, on account of his three 

 colors. But this Woodpecker has 

 the red of the head much brighter 

 than a Bluebird's breast, and shows 

 purer white as he flies, in large spaces 

 on his back and a\ iiigs ; though his blue 

 is not so briglit — it is what we call blue- 

 black, very dark and glossy, like polished 

 steel." 



"J3o they stay around all the year?" 

 asked Nat. 



" Some of them do, but not man}'. They are very 

 common in summer, but not so hardy as the Downies, 

 and most of them go off south for the winter. They 

 are very merry, frolicsome birds, with all sorts of tricks 

 and manners — even Dodo's Flickers are no jollier mem- 

 bers of the Laughing Family." 



''Do they work when they are through playing?" 

 asked Nat; "and do any good?" 



''Yes, indeed," answered the Doctor; "all kinds of 



Red-headed 

 Woodpecker. 



