i6 



AMERICAN ORNITHOLOGY. 



not hearing it, will resume their 

 drumming with more vim than ever. 

 Just why they do this is a mystery. 

 Perhaps they do it for exercise, to 

 keep the muscles of the neck lim- 

 ber, or possibly they may have a 

 telegraphic code among themselves, 

 and use this method of conveying 

 their opinions to their neighbors. 

 At any rate it can be heard a long 

 way off, and it is a sound welcomed 

 by all farmers in the spring, as it is 

 considered by them as a sure indi- 

 cation that spring is near at hand. 

 When feeding in a tree, the 

 flicker always commences at the 

 bottom and works his way to tue 

 top of the trees by a series of 



jumps, clinging to the trunk with 

 his claws, together with the assist- 

 ance of his tail, the feathers of 

 which are pointed at the end, and 

 the quills sharp and strong, for 

 this purpose. After having reached 

 the end of a limb, he will proceed 

 to another, and endeavor to cap- 

 ture any worms or bugs which 

 may be concealed under the bark. 

 While they migrate to a certain 

 extent, they are often a resident 

 wherever found, except in the ex- 

 treme north. They are one of the 

 greatest benefactors of the human, 

 and enemies to the insect race, 

 which we have, and are worthy of 

 the greatest protection . 



Albinos. 



There has been an unusual num- 

 ber of these curious freaks of nature 

 reported this season in this section 

 of the country. We have positive 

 records of three white-grey squir- 

 rels, two red squirrels, one raccoon, 

 one mink, a red-winged blackbird, 

 and a purple grackle; also a number 

 of English sparrows, white, or near- 

 ly so, are seen about the city. 

 Several parties also have reported 

 that a handsome, clear-white doe 

 was seen last month near Hudson, 

 Mass, Can any of our readers 

 inform us of others from other 

 sections,? 



Enough to Make Summer. 



Three Baby Swallows in a Chilly 

 Nest in Rochdale. 



Rochdale, Dec 6, — A nest con- 

 taining three young swallows was 

 found in the wood-shed of Andrew 

 Howarth & Sons' mill this after- 

 noon by George Miller, who goes 

 to this building often, as his work 

 requires him to do. 



He has noticed the same bird 

 flying around the shed several 

 times, and this afternoon he dis- 

 covered the nest wish the three 

 little birds. 



It is thought that the young 

 birds cannot live, owing to the 

 cold weather. — The Teleoram. 



