RED CONSPICUOUS IN PLUMAGE 463 
a home, and in six days it was complete. It was, as I 
afterwards ascertained, nine and a half inches in depth. 
This pair were not so shy 
as most of those I had 
watched; after the exca- 
vation was partly accom- 
plished, they kept on at 
their work when I was 
in full view, though dis- 
ereetly keeping my dis- 
tance. The male was 
advisory counsel and de- 
fender, but candor com- 
pels me to admit that he 
allowed Madam to do 
more than her share of 
the hard work. He was 
always near, keeping an 
eye on me and look- 
ing into the small door- » 
way to note progress 
when his mate had 
flown away for food, 
but only three times did I 
catch him making the chips 
fly himself. 
I thought sometimes he 
seemed stupefied with the 403. RED-BREASTED SAPSUCKER. 
sap he had been drinking. inthe gi eited The ahanenee 
hints nob-anuicommon. °" “™™ sibel 
