202 STORIES OF BIRD LIFE 



the appearance of bark which has been subjected to the 

 sapsucker 's bill. Undoubtedly trees sometimes die as a 

 result of the serious attacks made by this little red-faced 

 carpenter. 



When April drew near and Nature, awaking from her 

 long sleep, began to whisper joyously to the buds on all the 

 trees to push out of doors, the sapsucker bethought him- 

 self of his northern home. He was accustomed to come 

 each morning for his sap, usually about half -past seven 

 o 'clock, and would feed for half an hour or an hour. After 

 breakfasting on the morning of April the first, he flew to 

 a large white oak near by and beat a loud drum call several 

 times on a resounding piece of bark. Over in the edge of 

 the woods there was another roll from a dead limb, an 

 answering signal. It came from another male bird which 

 sometimes appeared on the lawn. The meaning of this was 

 clear ; the spell of spring and nesting time was strong upon 

 them ; it was the call of kind to kind, and I felt that their 

 time for departure was near. For four mornings longer 

 the sapsucker came, but on the fifth he did not appear, 

 although I came early to watch and waited long in the 

 hope of seeing him. The tugging at his heart had become 

 too strong to resist, his love was calling to him out of the 

 north, and he could not tarry longer. I shall watch with 

 gladness for his return in the autumn, for although he may 



