156 ARTISTS AND ARTISANS IN THE FEATHERED WORLD. 



evening. So rapidly do the blows follow each other that 

 the head of the bird seems to be vibrating on a spring, 

 and the sound can only be described by comparison to a 

 watchman's rattle. Chips and bark fly in every direc- 

 tion, and should the tree be an old one, whole heaps of 

 bark will be discovered at its foot. Before commencing 

 the operation for the special purpose of nest-making, the 

 woodpeckers always find out whether the tree is sound 

 or rotten, and they can ascertain the latter fact, even 

 through several layers of sound wood. When they have 

 fixed upon a site for their domicile, they go discrimi- 

 nately to work and speedily cut out a circular tunnel 

 just large enough to admit their bodies. Sometimes 

 this tunnel is tolerably straight ; ordinarily it turns off 

 in another direction. At the bottom of the hole the fe- 

 male bird collects the little chips of decayed wood that 

 have been cut off during the boring process and deposits 

 her eggs upon them without any further preparations. 

 This process does not always go on without hindrance, 

 for many little birds which like to build their nests in 

 hollows, but do not care to work themselves if they can 

 have it done by others, or which are not strong enough 

 to scoop habitations for themselves, will often allow the 

 woodpeckers to make a deep hole just fit for them, and 

 then drive them off through some ruse or even mere im- 

 pudence — for the woodpecker is particular and prefers to 

 begin work over again somewhere else if at all disturbed — 

 and take possession of the deserted residence. Another 

 grief may visit the woodpecker, against which neither 

 the height of the tree nor the depth of the cavity is the 

 least security. This is the black snake (Coluber constric- 

 tor), which frequently glides up the trunk of the tree and, 

 like a skulking savage, enters the woodpecker's peaceful 

 apartment and devours the eggs or helpless young, and, 

 if the place be large enough, coils himself up in the spot 

 and remains there for several days. The eager school- 



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