The Burgess EM Book for Children 



good carpenter. Where did you say Yellow Wing 

 the Flicker is making his home this year?" 



"Over in the Big Hickory -tree by the Smiling 

 Pool," replied Peter. "I don't understand yet 

 why Yellow Wing spends so much "time on the 

 ground." 



"Ants," replied Jenny Wren. "Just ants. He's 

 as fond of ants as is Old Mr. Toad, and that is 

 saying a great deal. If Yellow Wing keeps on 

 he'll become a ground bird instead of a tree bird. 

 He gets more than half his living on the ground 

 now. Speaking of drumming, did you ever hear 

 Yellow Wing drum on a tin roof?" 



Peter shook his head. 



"Well, if there's a tin roof anywhere around, 

 and Yellow Wing can find it, he will be perfectly 

 happy. He certainly does love to make a noise, 

 and tin makes the finest kind of a drum." 



Just then Jenny was interrupted by the arrival, 

 on the trunk of the very next tree to the one on 

 which she was sitting, of a bird about the size 

 of Sammy Jay. His whole head and neck were a 

 beautiful, deep red. His breast was pure white, 

 and his back was black to nearly the beginning of 

 his tail, where it was white. 



"Hello, Redhead!" exclaimed Jenny Wren. 

 "How did you know we were talking about your 

 family?" 



[80] 



