388 



AMERICAN ORNITHOLOGY. 



It was while watching this feeding of the young Downies that we first 

 discovered that the upper flat was occupied by "Yellow-jackets." We 

 had supposed that the holes which we noticed above the Downies were 

 made by the Woodpeckers. At different times we had seen M'hat 

 appeared to be small clouds of dust or smoke emitted from these 

 smaller holes, as though some one were inside and blowing outward 

 through them. As we looked we saw a bee enter one of these open- 

 ings. Investigation revealed the fact that each of the holes from 

 which we had observed the clouds escaping were occupied by bees, 

 which as they bored would kick the borings out. Evidently the Down- 

 ies feared these insects for on several occasions when a bee would hap- 

 pen to fly near, they would appear to dodge them, and once we saw 

 one of the Downies make a complete circuit of the stump in his endeav- 

 or to escape them. At another time we saw one of the birds catch one 

 of the bees and carry it to the yoaig oaes, showing that while they did 

 not like the insects as neighbors they did not object to using them as 

 food. 



The young were gradually taking on a suit of feathers similar to their 

 parents and on the twentieth day from the time they hatched, they left 

 the nest. Except for being perhaps a trifle smaller, they were the exact 



Photo from life by C. A. Reed. 



YOUNG DOWNIES. 



