CHAPTER XLVI. 



November 6 November 12. 



THE RED-HEADED WOODPECKER. 



Order Pici Family Picidse 



Genus Melanerpes Species Melanerpes erythrocephalus 



Length 9.25 to 9.75 ; wing, 5.30 to 5.70 ; tail, 3.60 to 3.75. 

 Irregular resident. 



"How does he know where to dig his hole, 



The woodpecker there in the elm bole? 



How does he know what kind of a limb 



To use for a drum or to burrow in? 



How does he find where the young grub grows 



I'd like to know." 



To answer the questions propounded by the poet, and 

 many others equally curious, has made the study of the wood- 

 peckers an intensely interesting one. Of all our birds, perhaps 

 none of them are more strangely interesting thaa they. Of this 

 family, the red-headed woodpecker is a conspicuous member. 



Of this woodpecker, Wilson says, "His tri-colored plum- 

 age, red, white, and black glossed with steel blue, is so striking, 

 and characteristic ; and his predatory habits in the orchards 

 and corn-fields, added to his numbers, and fondness for hover- 

 ing along the fences, so notorious, that almost every child is 

 acquainted with him." And Mr. Burroughs says, "His delib- 

 erate, dignified ways and his bright uniform of red, white and 

 steel-blue bespeak him as an officer of rank." And might he 

 not have added as an American officer, since his colors are red, 



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