THE WOODPECKERS, KINGFISHERS, AND CUCKOOS. 187 



the flicker, has got above hard work. Instead of delving in 

 wood, he sits on a post or a telegraph-pole or similar point 

 of vantage, taking beetles, grasshoppers, and other insects 

 which come along or are seen on the ground. At times he 

 darts out for flying insects and captures them on the wing. 

 He is fond of corn and nuts. In autumn these birds store 

 nuts in all sorts of crevices for future use. It has been 



THE RED-HEADED WOODPECKER. 

 ( Aflcr Bioloyirnl Xim-ey. ) 



observed that in years when there are many beechnuts, red- 

 headed woodpeckers spend the winter in the Northern States, 

 except New England where they are rare. 



About half the food taken by this species is animal and 

 half vegetable. Beetles are eaten oftener than any other order 

 of insects, forming about a third of the total food. Among 

 these beetles are many carabid and tiger beetles, which, being 

 carnivorous, are more or less useful. There are other com- 



