220 The Downy Woodpecker 



the year, and felt secure in his love-affairs ; but I soon found that he 

 was happy about something else also. He had discovered just the place 

 for a nest at least he appeared to think so and seemed bent on con- 

 vincing his ladylove of the fact. Twenty feet in the air, on the under 

 side of a dead limb of a very old and highly esteemed cherry-tree, was a 

 last year's Downy Woodpecker's nest. To this the little singer went 

 repeatedly. He would go in, come to the door and look out, disappear, 

 and then look out again. Of all the places in the neighborhood this, 

 indeed, was the ideal spot for the nest at least, I believe that was his 

 view of the situation. It is no small matter for a bird to find a safe 

 nest for its eggs and young; and where can a little 

 mother hide her eggs more securely from the pilfering 

 Blue Jay, or the inquisitive Red-headed Woodpecker, 

 than by placing them deep down in the beautifully secure cavity dug by 

 the strong bill of a Downy Woodpecker? 



THE HAIRY WOODPECKER 



Another black-and-white woodpecker very closely resembles the 

 Downy, except that it is a little larger. This bird the books call the 

 Hairy Woodpecker. It is quite true that it differs slightly in appear- 

 ance from its smaller relative ; for example, the outer tail-feathers are 

 white with no marks on them, while the feathers in the Downy's tail 

 are adorned with black spots. On the whole, however, the similarity 

 is very striking. It is usually found in the woods, and is not so much 

 inclined to come about the house as is our friendly, trusting, little Downy, 

 which we all love so much. 



Classification and Distribution 



The Downy Woodpecker belongs to the Order Pici, Family Picida, and Genus 

 Dryobates. Its scientific name is Dryobates pubescens. It is resident in all the 

 wooded parts of the United States and Canada, but most of the individuals move 

 somewhat southward in winter from the northern border of the specific range. 

 The Hairy Woodpecker belongs to the same genus, and is named Dryobates villosus. 

 It has a similar distribution to that of the Downy, but is rather more numerous 

 and hardy in the North. Each of these widely distributed species includes several 

 geographical subspecies. 



AK AND BARBED TONGUE OF THE DOWNY WOODPECKER 

 (Both much enlarged) 



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