18 THE WOODPECKERS 



almost irresistible attraction. A lightning-rod 

 will sometimes draw them farther than it would 

 an electric bolt ; and a telegraph pole, with its 

 tinkling glasses and ringing wires, gives them 

 great satisfaction. If men did not put their 

 singing poles in such public places, their music 

 would be much more popular with the wood- 

 peckers ; but even now the birds often venture 

 on the dangerous pastime and hammer you out a 

 concord of sweet sounds from the mellow wood- 

 notes, the clear peal of the glass, and the ringing 

 overtones of the wires. 



The flicker often telegraphs his love by tap- 

 ping either on a forest tree or on some loose 

 board of a barn or outhouse ; but he has other 

 ways of courting his lady. On fine spring morn- 

 ings, late in April, I have seen them on a hori- 

 zontal bough, the lady sitting quietly while her 

 lover tried to win her approval by strange antics. 

 Quite often there are two males displaying their 

 charms in open rivalry, but once I saw them 

 when the field was clear. If fine clothes made 

 a gentleman, this brave wooer would have been 

 first in all the land : for his golden wings and 

 tail showed their glittering under side as he 

 spread them ; his scarlet headdress glowed like 

 fire ; his rump was radiantly white, not to speak 

 of the jetty black of his other ornaments and 



