2 THE WOODPECKERS 



so that other men's learning does not always 

 suffice. So much of a man's pleasure in life, so 

 much of his power, depends on his ability to 

 silence these persistent questioners, that this lit- 

 tle book was written with the hope of making 

 clearer the kind of questions Dame Nature asks, 

 and the way to get correct answers. 



This is purposely a little book, dealing only 

 with a single group of birds, treating particu- 

 larly only some of the commoner species of that 

 group, taking up only a few of the problems 

 that present themselves to the naturalist for so- 

 lution, and aiming rather to make the reader 

 acquainted with the birds than learned about 

 them. 



The woodpeckers were selected in preference 

 to any other family because they are patient 

 under observation, easily identified, resident in 

 all parts of the country both in summer and in 

 winter, and because more than any other birds 

 they leave behind them records of their work 

 which may be studied after the birds have 

 flown. The book provides ample means for iden- 

 tifying every species and subspecies of wood- 

 pecker known in North America, though only 

 five of the commonest and most interesting 

 species have been selected for special study. 

 At least three of these five should be found in 



