ing cavities which are excavated in ly the softer wooded ones, such as elms, 



trees at heights varying from five to basswood, maple, chestnut, poplar, wil- 



over seventy feet above the ground are low and sycamore, are preferred to the " 



prepared by the united efforts of both harder kinds, such as ash, hickory, oak, 



sexes. Both the sexes assist also in the .etc." In the south the nesting sites 



incubation of the eggs and are devoted are frequently excavated in pine trees, 



to their young, frequently, it is said, and in Texas and prairie regions they 



allowing themselves to be captured often nest in telegraph poles. While 



rather than desert their young. Their these birds are shy and retiring es- 



nests are said to average about, a foot pecially during the nesting season, 



in depth and may be excavated in either throughout the greater part of their 



living or dead wood. It is said, how- range. Major Bendire quotes one ob- 



ever, that a nesting site is never exca- server who states that the Red-bellied 



vated in any portion of a tree that is Woodpecker has been known to exca- 



wholly dead. Major Bendire, in his vate nesting sites in the cornices of 



"Life Histories of North American buildings in Manhattan, Kansas. 

 Birds," says: "Deciduous trees, especial- 



THE. WILLOW'S WAYS 



Down beside the pasture brook 



Where the cattle drink. 

 Swing and sway the willows lithe, 



O'er the water's brink. 



With each breeze that brushes by 



Bends the willow copse, 

 With each gale ; blow low or high ; 



Bow the willow tops. 



Springtime's overflowing stream, 



Winter's roughest blast. 

 Hurricane or thunderstorm. 



Harmless rushes past. 



How the graceful willows there. 



Though the days be rough. 

 Bow before each rampant storm. 



Boisterous and bluff! 



You, O comrade, profit by 

 The yielding willow's ways: 



Incline before the storms of life 

 And lengthen so your days ! 



. — Frank Farrington. 



53 



