WOODPECKER LIFE 



other insects that come out then from their shelters into the 

 open. 



The old belief that woodpeckers are ever athirst because 

 of their inability to drink any save the rain that falls into 

 their open throats or the drops that fall from the leaves, may 

 have some foundation. In the case of this family, though a 

 basin of water was always conveniently near, and though 

 sparrows, robins, blue jays and wrens constantly patronized 

 it, no woodpecker was ever seen to refresh himself from it — 

 many as there were of them in the vicinity. 



\^Tien more bread than the four birds could consume was 

 placed in the post, the older ones carried a part of it away — 

 usually the larger pieces on top — for future use, or pounded 

 it tightly into worm-holes in the same post, but never into 

 the ones in which they found it. 



Several weeks after the burrow was finished, one even- 

 ing just about sunset, a red head was seen peeping from the 

 window in the treetop ; then it was drawn back, and again it 

 appeared and was withdrawn, to be seen no more during the 

 evening. It was a dormitory, then, that you hollowed out 

 for yourself, was it, my lady? 



One morning, near the close of August, it was noticed 

 that the entrance to the lodging was distinctly larger, and 

 that a patch of daylight showed through from the other side. 

 "Whether for some reason the bird herself had enlarged the 

 opening before departing for the South, or whether this 

 had been done by mischievous squirrels on murder bent, is 

 not known; but certain it is that the red-mutched laborer was 

 gone. Others of her kind lingered in the grove for a week or 

 more, and though food was placed on the accustomed post, 

 neither she nor any of her immediate family appeared to 

 claim it. 



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