THE DOWNY BABY. 229 



that way I drew some of the woods birds about. 

 The downy woodpecker was one of my first call- 

 ers. He came with a sharp "chit-it-it," hung 

 upon the clusters, occasionally head down, and 

 picked and ate as long as he liked. The vigi- 

 lant robin would sometimes fly at him, and he 

 would leave; but in a moment back he came, 

 and went on with his repast. When the care of 

 an infant fell to him, he brought his charge to 

 the source of supplies. A farm wagon hap- 

 pened to stand near the dead tree, and on this 

 the young woodpecker alighted, and stood 

 humped up and quiet while his parent went to 

 the berries, picked several for himself, and then 

 proceeded to feed him. This young person was 

 very circumspect in his behavior. He did not 

 flutter nor cry, in the usual bird-baby manner, 

 but received his food with perfect composure. 

 Berries, however, seemed to be new to him, and 

 he did not appear to relish them, for after tast- 

 ing two or three he flew away. In spite of this 

 he came again the next day, and then he flew 

 over to a cluster himself, and hung, back down, 

 while he ate. He was charming with his sweet 

 low chatter, and very lovely in plumage, white 

 as snow, with dark markings clear and soft. 



One of the prettiest of our guests was a young 

 chestnut-sided warbler. He looked much bigger 

 than his papa, as warbler babies often do ; but 



