V 



WOODPECKER LORE 



ARIATIONS of the Gertrude story are told in other 

 lands of the owl, cuckoo and lapwing. 



In Norway the woodpecker is called "Gertrude's fowl." 



In Greek fable, Palytechus was changed to a wood- 

 pecker. 



FRENCH STORY OF THE WOODPECKER 



In the beginning, when the earth had been created but 

 had not yet been given permanent form, the birds were told 

 to hollow out with their beaks places in the form of lakes, 

 rivers and pools, that would be filled later with water. All 

 obeyed except the indolent woodpecker, who, because of her 

 refusal, was denied the privilege of even drinking from the 

 cavities made by other birds ; she should drink nothing save 

 rain, and should get that as she could. And so it is that she 

 ever calls to the clouds, "Rain, rain," and that she ever keeps 

 an upward attitude that she may receive in her open beak the 

 drops which fall from the leaves. 



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