130 



THE OOLOGIST. 



by the habits of the birds as to appear 

 almost black. 



The Woodpeekers do not put forth 

 much effort for the protection of their 

 eggs and young. 



It is true the Flicker, perched in the 

 top of some neighboring tree asserts 

 very emphatically that he will "kill 

 you" if you do not let his nest alone, 

 and the little Downy frequently re. 

 proaches an intruder upon his domestic 

 affairs for their "cheek," and other spe- 

 cies make their objections to one being 

 too close to their nest known by vari- 

 ous well-known notes, but they seldom 

 or never attack one with their bill and 

 wings as many other birds do. 



Six species are resident here, and two 

 or three are known as migrants. 



The Hairy Woodpecker is quite com- 

 mon resident. This species is one of 

 the most beneficial of the family They 

 search for insects almost continually 

 from morning until night, and do not 

 seem to have any special feeding time 

 as many other birds do. 



I have known one of them to almost 

 completely divest a large dead hemlock 

 tree of its outer bark in less than a 

 week's time, 



In such cases I cannot say that the 

 work was all done by one bird, but 

 never observed more than one to be 

 present at a time. Their food consists 

 almost entirely of insects with now and 

 then a berry thrown in by way of 

 change. 



As soon as the young are fully fledged 

 they accompany the old birds nearly 

 everywhere they go and are fed by them 

 until fall. 



The young never seem to be satisfied, 

 and no matter how well fed, are con- 

 stantly pleading for more. 



They commence nesting about the 

 middle of April. The nesting cavity is 

 frequently excavated in a beech tree, 

 which seems to be a favorite with many 

 species. The eggs are usually five or 

 six in number. 



The DoAvny is a common resident. It 

 has very much the appearance of beings 

 a small edition of the Hairy, but upon 

 close examination Avill be found to dif- 

 fer in plumage as well as size. 



The habits of the two are almost 

 identical, only the Downy is a littte the 

 more familiar of the two They are by 

 no means uncommon visitors in our 

 towns and cities, where they may be- 

 seen searching diligently for insects up- 

 on the shade ti'ees. Their delight is to- 

 nest in dead limbs of apple trees in or- 

 chards. They sometimes nest in dead 

 limbs of shade trees, along the side of 

 village streets. 



When nesting in the woods, beech 

 and ash trees are most frequently selec- 

 ted. 



The entrance to the excavation of 

 this species is as round as if cut by the 

 aid of a mathematical instrument and 

 and no larger than will barely admit 

 the bird. The eggs are from four to 

 six in number and usually become- 

 much stained as incubation advances. 

 When more than four in number, one 

 or more are frequently undersized. 



The Hairy and Downy are the Sap- 

 suckers with us. 



The Fileated Woodpecker is the rar- 

 est of the species, resident here. They 

 are said to have been common here at 

 one time, but as the timber was cleared 

 off they became rare, and now are only 

 to be found in small numbers in those 

 pieces of timber farthest removed from 

 habitations. 



They are very shy retiring birds, very 

 difficult to approach, it being almost 

 impossible to secure a specimen if once 

 aware of your presence. From their 

 habit of searching among fallen logs 

 for food they have acquired the name 

 of Logcock. They are also c ailed Wood- 

 cock. They feed on those insects and 

 their laiva found in dead and decaying 

 timber, and berries, such as those of 

 the gum, dogwood, etc. This species, 

 can readily be distinguished from all 



