RED-HEAD AND HIS MUSIC. 



195 



of the woodpecker does the work of a gimlet and 

 chisel. The tongue within the bill is even more re- 

 markable. On the end of it are barbs, and it gives out 

 a sticky fluid, so that the tongue can 

 reach far into a worm-hole and pull 

 the victim out of its retreat. 



The toes of these birds are a little Yoked Tofc3 ' 

 like those of the parrot. They are yoked. Two are 

 thrown before and two behind, so that they can more 

 easily cling to the bark or bare wood of a tree's trunk. 

 The tail helps a little to hold Red-head up ; for you will 

 observe that he presses his tail against the tree. 



Does the woodpecker sing? The Duke of Argyle, 

 who lives in Scotland, after watching very closely, con- 

 cluded that this bird 

 with a chisel-bill makes 

 music to please his 

 mate, as truly as the 

 thrush or robin does ; 

 only his music is in- 

 strumental. The wood- 

 pecker is a drummer.- 

 He often thumps his 

 bill on a dead or dry 

 limb, merely to please 

 his companion. Now 

 let me describe what I 

 have seen and heard. 



One day I was walking on the railroad track, when I 

 heard a tapping and ringing noise from the top of a tele- 

 graph pole. The noise began and ended at regular in- 

 tervals. Carefully moving my position, I saw him and 



Bed-head. 



