THE WOODPECKER FAMILY 167 
to fly. The parents and others of the wood- 
pecker tribe were flymg about him, much 
troubled, and trying to help him. But this 
young one had been hurt, or was not yet strong 
enough to get about. He acted as if he were 
half paralyzed, and he was wholly helpless. 
Once while the little bird was hobbling about 
and calling for something to eat, and no one 
was there to feed him, a robin happened to 
notice him. He took pity on the hungry baby, 
and brought him a nice worm, which he took 
very gladly. 
But still more strange was the way the family 
cat acted toward the little stranger. When she 
saw him on the ground, she started for him. 
No doubt she meant to catch him, for she was 
a great bird hunter. When she got almost up 
to the little fellow, she seemed suddenly to 
notice that he was a baby, and helpless. At 
once her manner changed. She went up to 
him, and actually played with him in the gentlest 
way, not hurting him in the least. She did this 
several times before the bird got strong enough 
to fly. This is a true story. 
The CALIFORNIAN WoopprEcKER takes the 
place of the red-head in California. He is most 
interesting because of one habit which gives him 
