100 TWENTIETH CENTURY CLASSICS 



give birth to myriads more of their race, equally de- 

 structive." 



For the above supposed reason, the birds so beneficial, 

 and in no sense injurious, are frequently misnamed 

 " Sapsuckers," a term not applicable to any of our Wood- 

 peckers, except genus Sphyrapicus. 



The nests are excavated in decaying limbs, or bodies 

 of small trees, usually ten to fifteen feet from the ground 

 (the apple tree a favorite) ; the entrance round and just 

 large enough to admit the bird, then smoothly chipped 

 downward for several inches, and enlarged to fit the body. 

 Eggs four or five, rarely six, .Y5x.58; pure crystal white; 

 in form, rather subspherical. 



XXVIII. FLICKER. 



Colaptes auratus (LiNN.). 



Resident; common. Begin laying the last of April. 



HABITAT. Eastern North America; north to Hudson's 

 Bay; west to the eastern slope of the Rocky Mountains; 

 also reported from Alaska, where we would only naturally 

 look for the Northwestern Flicker. 



Iris dark brown; bill slate blue; legs and feet ashy 

 or light lead color; claws horn blue. 



This well known, familiar bird is as much at home on 

 our prairies as within the wooded districts. Mr. Langille, 

 in his interesting work, " Our Birds in their Haunts," 



" Next to the Robin, Bluebird or Barn Swallow, few 

 members of the feathered tribes are better known than 

 the ' Flicker,' ' High-hole,' ' Yellow-hammer,' etc., for the 

 Goldenwing is known by all these names. His several 



