The food of the Ivory-billed Wood- 

 peckers consists of insects and their lar- 

 vae which are found in decaying wood. 

 In the v^inter they will feed upon nuts 

 and it is said will store acorns for use 

 during this season. One observer says : 

 "I have seen them destroy the nests of 

 the gray squirrels to obtain the acorns 

 and nuts they had put by for the winter. 

 They would sit on the top of the nest 

 and with a few strokes of their bill scat- 

 ter it in every direction." The blows 



which one of these birds delivers when 

 excavating a limb in searching for larvae 

 is simply terrific and has been described 

 as sounding like the blows of a hammer 

 upon the tree. Audubon tells us that 

 they are very fond of wild grapes, and 

 also eat blackberries and persimmons, but 

 it is well known that they do not disturb 

 standing corn or orchard fruits. They 

 are certainly very useful birds as their 

 food consists very largely of beetles, 

 larvae and the large grubs. 



BIRD LEGENDS IN RHYME 



ORIGIN OF BIRD SONG 



An angel came wandering earthward one day, 



And joyously singing she passed on her way. 



So wondrously sweet was the song that was sung, 



That the birds paused to listen, their little throats dumb. 



No sound of earth's music ever could be, 

 So rich and so full of Heaven's own harmony ; 

 But as soon as ever the last notes had ceased 

 Each little dumb throat and tongue was released, 



And a chorus of song burst out on the air, 



That made the woods vibrate with melody rare. 



And each tiny bird sang — though never before — 



While their songs had one meaning ''Adore Him, Adore;" 



The voice of the angel within them had stirred 



The heart of each singer, and old earth has heard, 



Ever since, from God's Songsters, their glad hymns of praise, 



And they carol them forth on the darkest of days. 



No songs are alike ; each warm little breast. 

 Holds a different thought of the angel's behest. 

 But listen intently when bird songs are near. 

 For the song of an angel perchance you may hear. 



— Edith Drury Lemington. 



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