70 THE WOODPECKERS 



ting edge. It is a tapering, square-ended, flat- 

 sided tool, rather six-sided at the base and 

 holding its bevel and angles to the tip. The 

 woodpecker's bill is a pick, not a chisel. It is 

 used like a pick, being driven home with a heavy 



Head of Ivory-billed Woodpecker. 



blow and getting its efficiency from its own 

 weight and wedge-shape and from the force with 

 which it is impelled. Watch the downy wood- 

 pecker at his work and see what sturdy blows 

 he delivers, pausing after each one to aim and 

 drive home another telling stroke. This is pick- 

 axe work. But sometimes he rattles off a suc- 

 cession of taps so short and quick that they 

 blend together in one continuous drumming, too 



