BIRDS OF THE WEST 31 



are snapped up. He then takes a drink of tree juice and often 

 varies his diet with a few mouthfuls of the soft cambium layer just 

 under the bark. 



Many a dead tree testifies to the ravages of this slave of the 

 drink habit. 



As with all the woodpeckers, he has the habit of tattooing on 

 the dead limbs or trunks of trees just for the fun of it and as he 

 is an extremist in every way, he indulges very largely in all wood- 

 pecker sports. I have never heard of a wife ever leaving her hus- 

 band in spite of his intemperance, inhuman cruelty and in- 

 compatible temper. Possibly she has religious scruples, or more 

 likely she never stays in one place long enough to gain a residence. 



Woodpeckers are hardy birds and are little afraid of cold 

 for they are tree dwellers and their homes afford them the best 

 of protection. They usually lay a large number of white eggs and 

 except from the gunners they can generally protect themselves. 

 Under such circumstances they come north very early and only 

 the question of food supply causes them to migrate at all. 



