162 BIRD STORIES FROM BURROUGHS 



would fly at her spitefully and drive her off. 

 One chilly November morning, as I passed un- 

 der the tree, I heard the hammer of the little 

 architect in his cavity, and at the same time saw 

 the persecuted female sitting at the entrance of 

 the other hole as if she would fain come out. 

 She was actually shivering, probably from both 

 fear and cold. I understood the situation at a 

 glance ; the bird was afraid to come forth and 

 brave the anger of the male. Not till I had 

 rapped smartly upon the limb with my stick did 

 she come out and attempt to escape ; but she had 

 not gone ten feet from the tree before the male 

 was in hot pursuit, and in a few moments had 

 driven her back to the same tree, where she tried 

 to avoid him among the branches. There is prob- 

 ably no gallantry among the birds except at the 

 mating season. I have frequently seen the male 

 woodpecker drive the female away from the bone 

 upon the tree. When she hopped around to the 

 other end and timidly nibbled it, he would pre- 

 sently dart spitefully at her. She would then 

 take up her position in his rear and wait till he 

 had finished his meal. The position of the female 

 among the birds is very much the same as that 

 of women among savage tribes. Most of the 

 drudgery of life falls upon her, and the leavings 

 of the males are often her lot. 



