A LINE A DAY 



peared and he also carried off a cherry in his bill. We began 

 throwing the cherries in the grass when we heard the birds calling, 

 and down one would sweep from the tree close by and off he would 

 go, returning in an instant for more. By watching, we discovered 

 their nest in the linden tree overhanging the entranceway. The 

 braver bird, the quicker to learn faith in humankind, I took for the 

 father, although the markings of the sexes are identical. A few 

 days later we saw two young ones as big as their parents but with- 

 out the red heads ; they clung in a crotch of the linden and the father 

 and mother fed them, turn and turn about. The week after, hear- 

 ing a great scolding from the suet -tree, we rushed to the window; 

 there was the red-headed woodpecker, and there were the cherries, 

 but what was the trouble ? No enemy was in sight. The mother 

 bird threw herself from side to side on the tree calling vigorously, 

 her mate joined her, and they took turns in calling. At length, fully 

 twenty minutes later, timidly, but with a rush, one of the young 

 ones appeared on the next tree, soon followed by the second, more 

 afraid to be left alone than to brave the unknown perils at the 

 other side of the lawn. Much pleased, down flew Papa Woodpeck- 

 er, but he did not touch the cherry, he waited . That was too much ; 

 no young one was going to feed himself. Mamma Woodpecker 

 called and she flew down and looked up at them, saying as plainly 

 as a-b-c : " Do come down and get this fat fruit ! " But the chil- 

 dren still clung sturdily to the tree-trunks, refusing to budge. 



Papa took a cherry up to them and there were sounds expressive 



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