98 BIRDS THROUGH AN OPERA-GLASS. 



gave back the sound for which he had been listen- 

 ing, he began work without ado. This bark must 

 have been harder or thicker than the other, for 

 instead of boring straight through, he loosened it 

 by drilling, first from one side and then from the 

 other. When he could not get it off in this way, 

 he went above, and below, to try to start it, so 

 that, before he found his worm he had stripped 

 off pieces of bark several inches long and fully 

 two across. He was so much engro'ssed that I 

 came to the very foot of the stub without disturb- 

 ing him. 



Indeed, woodpeckers are not at all shy here 

 but work as unconcernedly by the side of the 

 house as anywhere else. Once I was attracted by 

 the cries of a hairy, and creeping up discovered a 

 mother feeding her half-grown baby. She flew 

 off when she saw me, probably warning the little 

 fellow to keep still, for he stayed where she left 

 him for five or ten minutes as if pinioned to the 

 branch, crouching close, and hardly daring to stir 

 even his head. Then, as she did not come back, 

 and he saw no reason to be afraid of me, he flew 

 off independently to another limb, and marched 

 up the side arching his neck and bowing his head 

 as much as to say, " Just see how well I walk ! " 



