98 BIRDS THROUGH AN OPERA-GLASS. 
gave back the sound for which he had been listen- 
ing, he began work without ado. This bark must 
have been harder or thicker than the other, for 
instead of boring straight through, he loosened it 
by drilling, first from one side and then from the 
other. When he could not get it off in this way, 
he went above, and below, to try to start it, so 
that, before he found his worm he had stripped 
off pieces of bark several inches long and fully 
two across. He was so much engrossed that I 
came to the very foot of the stub without disturb- 
ing him. 
Indeed, woodpeckers are not at all shy here 
but work as unconcernedly by the side of the 
house as anywhere else. Once I was attracted by 
the cries of a hairy, and creeping up discovered a 
mother feeding her half-grown baby. She flew 
off when she saw me, probably warning’ the little 
fellow to keep still, for he stayed where she left 
him for five or ten minutes as if pinioned to the 
branch, crouching close, and hardly daring to stir 
even his head. Then, as she did not come back, 
and he saw no reason to be afraid of me, he flew 
off independently to another limb, and marched 
up the side arching his neck and bowing his head 
as much as to say, “ Just see how well I walk!” 
