i 22? 



the MtU* liluioh gray in immature -p.. mi. n tinged with rufous lower 

 brai>t HII-I Ully wl.it. .(.I. v. Similar t<> tin- male, l-ul tho ni.kit and a 

 i.jui.lori tin- U-ll\ rufoi.- . .2-00. 



N -rtli Aim-ri.-u; l-n-i-.U from Klor'nla to Labrador, and winter* 

 from Virginia to South Aim-rim. 



Waxhiiiu'ton, common IV i. \j,|. 1 to Nov. 28; 



OMUal in winter. <'an. Dinoo H K., Apl. in to i t -t. 



>n a liimk. iil-out nix feet from tin- entrance. /.'yy, five 

 to eight, white, 1-S4 x 1 >:,. 



Tin- -hon- of wood i d streams or ponds are the chosen haunts of 

 iier. Silently he | torches on some limb overhanging the 

 water, ever on the a.'ert for food or foe. Paddle toward him as quietly 

 as you plea-e. ju-l a.-, you reach his danger line he drops from his 

 perch and with loud, rattling call flies on ahead. This may be re- 

 Mi times, until finally the limits of his wanderings are 

 reached, when he make- a wide detour and returns to the starting point. 



The Kingfisher hunts after the manner of the Fish Hawk. In 

 passing over the water it needs only the glint of a shining fin or scale 

 ju-t U-neath the surface to catch his watchful eye. On quickly mov- 

 ing wings he 1). i he place, waiting only a fair chance to 

 plunge on the unsuspecting fish In-low. Knu-rging from the water 

 with his prey in his bill, he shake- the -pray from his plumage, and, 

 with an exultant rattle. Hies away to some favorite perch. 



ORDER PICI. WOODPECKERS, WRYNECKS, ETC. 



FAMILY PICID^E. WOODPECKERS. 



Woodpeckers occur in all wooded parts of the world except in the 



Australian region and Madagascar. About three hundred and fifty 

 species an- known, of which nearly one half are confined to the 

 New World. Some twenty-five of this numln-r are found in North 

 America. W.-.lp.-ekers are rather solitary birds, but are sometimes 

 found associated in scattered companies during their migrations. 

 Above all other birds they are especially adapted to creep or climb. 

 Tin- |M'.-uliar structure of tho foot, with its two toes directed for- 

 ward and two backward (except in one genus), assists them in cling- 

 ing to an upright surface, while the jtointed, stiffened tail-feathers 

 H a prop when tho bird is re-ling. The stout, chisel-like bill is 

 used to cut away wood and ex|>ose the hiding places of grubs, etc., 

 when the Ion;;, di-t. -n-ible tongue with its horny, spear like tip is 

 thrust in. the food impaled and drawn out. The vcx-al powers of 

 Woodpeckers are limited, nnd the bill is also used to beat the long, 

 rolling call which is their love-song. The eggs of Woodpeckers are 



