WOODPECKER AND ANTS. 30 1 



other natural objects not to be met with in more sou- 

 thern, level, and cultivated countries ; and the scenery 

 and climate have in themselves many attractions. 



Against those colonies the woodpeckers carry on 

 pretty general hostilities. No doubt they capture 

 many single ones upon the trees ; and possibly they 

 may do that, though, of course, without any intention, 

 partly in the way of reprisal. When a large animal of 

 any kind goes to prey, the small ones which live upon 

 the same kind of food, generally follow, in order to 

 have their share, or to pick up the fragments, that no- 

 thing may be lost. In conformity with this general 

 law, it is by no means improbable that when the wood- 

 peckers beat the trees, in order to alarm the insects in 

 the bark, the ants may crowd there and often pay for 

 their temerity with their lives. But it is not upon 

 trees that the birds find them the most profitable cap- 

 ture. Upon fine sunny days, especially fine sunny days 

 immediately after a shower, when the ground under the 

 trees is covered with small insects that have been beaten 

 down by the rain, the woodpecker alights on the ground, 

 squats down and projects its tongue across one of the 

 principal highways. The ants come in crowds to ex- 

 amine it, mount upon it, and cover it ; and the mo- 

 ment that that is done, the bird withdraws, with the 

 whole of the visitors, swallows them, and projects the 

 tongue anew, continuing this operation till its appetite 

 be satisfied. As this action is carried on with the 

 greatest assiduity during the nesting time, it is probable 

 that the woodpecker may carry part of the ants to the 

 nest for the unfledged young ; and this is rendered 

 more probable by the fact, that the ant hunting is not 

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