DOWNY WOODPECKER. 453 



the middle of May also, the pair begin to look out a suitable 

 deposit for their eggs and young. The entrance is in the form 

 of a perfect circle, and left only just large enough for an indi- 

 vidual to pass in and out. Both sexes labor for about a week 

 at this task with indefatigable diligence, carrying on the burrow 

 in some orchard tree, in two different directions, to the depth 

 of 16 to 20 inches down; and to prevent suspicion the chips 

 are carried out and strewn at a distance. The male occa- 

 sionally feeds his mate while sitting ; and about the close of 

 June the young are observed abroad, climbing up the tree with 

 considerable address. Sometimes the crafty House Wren in- 

 terferes, and, driving the industrious tenants from their hole, 

 usurps possession. These birds have a shrill cackle and a reit- 

 erated call, which they frequently utter while engaged in quest 

 of their prey. In the autumn they feed on various kinds of 

 berries as well as insects. No species can exceed the present 

 in industry and perseverance. While thus regularly probing 

 the bark of the tree for insects, it continues so much engaged 

 as to disregard the approaches of the observer, though imme- 

 diately under the tree. These perforations, made by our Sap- 

 suckers, — as the present and Hairy species are sometimes 

 called, — are carried round the trunks and branches of the 

 orchard trees in regular circles, so near to each other that, 

 according to Wilson, eight or ten of them may be covered by 

 a dollar. The object of this curious piece of industry is not 

 satisfactorily ascertained ; but whether it be done to taste the 

 sap of the tree, or to dislodge vermin, it is certain that the 

 plant escapes uninjured, and thrives as well or better than 

 those which are unperforated. 



This diminutive and very industrious species is a constant 

 inhabitant of the fur countries up to the 58th parallel, seeking 

 its food principally on the maple, elm, and ash, and north of 

 latitude 54 degrees, where the range of these trees terminates, 

 on the aspen and birch. The circles of round holes which it 

 makes with so much regularity round the trunks of living trees 

 are no doubt made for the purpose of getting at the sweet sap 

 which they contain. In the month of February, 1830, I 



