12 THE WOODPECKERS 



deep into the wood. I measured such a hole 

 the other day, and found it was more than eight 

 inches long and larger than a lead-pencil, bored 

 through solid rock-maple wood. The wood- 

 pecker must sink a hole at right angles to this 

 channel and draw the big grub out through his 

 small, rough-sided hole. You would be sur- 

 prised, if you tried to do the same with a pair 

 of nippers the size of the woodpecker's bill, to 

 find how strong the borer is, how he can buckle 

 and twist, how he braces himself against the 

 walls of his house. Were your strength no 

 greater than the woodpecker's, the task would 

 be much harder. Indeed, a large grub would 

 stand a good chance of getting away but for 

 one thing, the woodpecker spears him, and 

 thereby saves many a dinner for himself. 



Here is a primitive Indian fish-spear, such as 



Indian spear. 



the Penobscots used. To the end of a long 

 pole two wooden jaws are tied loosely enough to 

 spring apart a little under pressure, and midway 

 between them, firmly driven into the end of the 



