142 
the balance between good and evil is in its favour, for although it eats 
some fruit, May beetles or June bugs and weevils form a large part of its 
food. It has been accused of eating fruit and without doubt the charges 
have some foundation, but careful study has shown that these cases are 
local and confined to limited areas and perhaps to certain individuals. 
409. Red-bellied Woodpecker. FR.—LE PIC DE LA CAROLINE. Centurus carolinus. 
L, 9-50. Entire back and upperparts sharply and regularly barred with black and white. 
Whole back of neck to shoulder and, in the male, the top of head, bright red. All re- 
mainder and below ashy white with slight olive tinge. Abdomen slightly tinged with red. 
Distinctions. The even barring of the whole back and the red colour of the crown 
and rear neck are easily distinguished. 
Distribution. From the gulf coast to northern United States, occurring as a straggler 
to the north of the boundary in southern Ontario. 
This Woodpecker is of rare and local occurrence in Canada. Its 
economic status is good although it is fond of wild fruit and occasionally 
turns its attention to cultivated varieties. 
412. Flicker. GOLDEN-WINGED WOODPECKER. HIGHHOLE, HIGHHOLDER, YELLOW- 
HAMMER. FR.—LE PIC DORE. Colaptes auratus. L, 12. Plate XX B. 
Distinction. A large Woodpecker with the under surface of the wings and tail bright 
yellow. ; 
Field Marks. General Woodpecker-like actions; size; yellow underwing surfaces 
and white rump conspicuous in flight. 
Nesting. Nests in holes excavated in dead stubs, usually in the open, rarely if ever 
in dense woods. The peculiar inter-relation of distinct species is well illustrated by this 
bird. Its deserted nesting-holes are made use of by many other species which are incap- 
able of excavating their own. Sparrow Hawks, Tree Swallows, Crested Flycatchers, 
and some other useful species are thus directly dependent upon Woodpeckers, especially 
Flickers, for nesting sites. There are many other such cases in nature of interdepen- 
dence; some are obvious and well known, some we surmise, and others may be that we 
do not and cannot at present even suspect. This is a cogent reason for caution in disturb- 
ing the established order of nature. 
Distribution. The Flicker in its various subspecies is distributed all over eastern 
North America, north to the tree limits. It breeds wherever found in Canada. 
SUBSPECIES. The Flicker is divided into several subspecies, the eastern Canadian 
variety being known as the Northern Flicker C. a. luteus. 
The most familiar of the Woodpeckers to the general public, as is 
indicated by the great number of vernacular names that have been appplied 
to it; only the principal ones are given above. The loud “Flicker, flicker, 
flicker’, of the male and the piercing ‘‘Peiu-w’’ of both sexes are well 
known and easily recognized sounds. Though a true Woodpecker the 
Flicker is a pronounced ground feeder and is especially fond of ants, of 
which its food is often largely composed. It delights to cling to a hollow 
reverberating tree trunk and beat out rattling tattoos that can be heard 
for great distances. This noise seems to be made as a call to its mate 
or may sometimes be from pure exuberance of spirits. The reproductive 
powers of the Flicker are phenomenal. By taking away the eggs as they 
are laid it has been known to lay thirty or more in a season. It seems 
to be able to keep up the deposition until the set is completed. 
Economic Status. Ants constitute nearly half the food of the Flicker. 
The remainder of its insect food consists of both beneficial and harmful 
species, but the latter noticeably predominate. It takes some fruit, 
grain, and mast; but on the whole must be considered to be beneficial 
rather than harmful. Perhaps the worst charge that can be made against 
