II 



HOW THE WOODPECKER CATCHES A GRUB 



DID you ever see a hairy woodpecker strolling 

 about a tree for what he could pick up ? 



There is a whur-r-rp of gay black and white 

 wings and the flash of a scarlet topknot as, with 

 a sharp cry, he dashes past you, strikes the 

 limb solidly with both feet, and instantly sidles 

 behind it, from which safe retreat he keeps a 

 sharp black eye fixed upon your motions. If 

 you make friends with him by keeping quiet, he 

 will presently forgive you for being there and 

 hop to your side of the limb, pursuing his ordi- 

 nary work in the usual way, turning his head 

 from side to side, inspecting every crevice, and 

 picking up whatever looks appetizing. Any 

 knot or little seam in the bark is twice scanned ; 

 in such places moths and beetles lay their eggs. 

 Little cocoons are always dainty morsels, and 

 large cocoons contain a feast. The butterfly- 

 hunter who is hoping to hatch out some fine 

 cecropia moths knows well that a large propor- 

 tion of all the cocoons he discovers will be empty. 



