THE WINTER BIRDS. 283 



food from the inside of the wood or bark of the tree. 

 Hence he is not so diligent in his examination of the 

 outside of the branch as the Chickadee. He examines 

 those parts only where he hears the scratching or gnawing 

 of the grub that is concealed beneath the surface, bores 

 the wood to obtain it, and then flies off. The Chickadee 

 looks for insects on or near the surface, and does not con- 

 fine his search to trees. He examines fences, the under 

 parts of the eaves of houses, and the wood-pile, and de- 

 stroys in the course of his foraging many an embryo 

 moth or butterfly which would become the parent of 

 noxious larv r a. The Woodpecker is often represented as 

 the emblem of industry ; but the Chickadee is more 

 truly emblematical of this virtue, and the Woodpecker 

 of perseverance, as he never tires when drilling into the 

 wood of a tree in quest of his prey. 



THE HAIRY WOODPECKER. 



The Hairy Woodpecker is larger than the preceding 

 species, and their difference in size is almost the only 

 notable distinction. It derives its name from the resem- 

 blance of some of the feathers on its back to hairs. This 

 Woodpecker is not so often seen in summer as the smaller 

 species, but both are about equally noticeable in winter. 

 The nest is made in holes excavated by its own labor for 

 this purpose in the trunk or branches of old trees. The 

 bird commonly selects a dried and partially decayed limb, 

 because it is more easily excavated after the hole is 

 drilled through the outside. 



THE RED-HEADED WOODPECKER. 



This is the most beautiful of our Woodpeckers and 

 nearly as large as a Robin. It is not often seen in the 



