36o THE NORTHERN FLICKER. 



and swaying before the object of her choice, and to pour out an answering 

 flood of softly whispered adulation. The best of it is, however, that these 

 affectionate demonstrations are kept up during the nesting season, so that 

 even when one bird relieves its mate upon the eggs it must needs pause for 

 a while outside the nest tO' bow and sway and swap compliments. 



In nesting the Flicker usually chisels out a hole at a moderate height 

 in orchard tree, fence-post, stub, or telegraph pole, but sometimes resorts to 

 the dead tops of forest trees. In the West, in places where timber is less 

 abundant, it sometimes drills holes through the roofs or sheathing of houses, 

 and nests in the crannies within. Seven or eight highly polished, white eggs are 

 laid upon the chips, which usually line the nest, and incubation begins custom- 

 arily when the last egg is laid. The female is a close sitter, and instances 

 are on record where pebbles dropped in upon her have failed to dislodge her, 

 or where once being lifted off she brushed past the disturber to re-enter the 

 nest. Altho provided with a bill which might prove a formidable weapon, 

 the Flicker is of too gentle a nature to wield it in combat, and seldom offers 

 any resistance whatever tO' the intruder. 



After fourteen days young birds are hatched, blind, ugly, helpless. In a 

 few days more, however, they are able to cling tO' the sides of the nesting- 

 hollow, and are ready to set up a clamor upon the appearance of food. This 

 noise has been compared to the hissing of a nest of snakes, but as the fledg- 

 lings grow it becomes an uproar equal to the best efforts of a telephone pole 

 when the wires are singing. 



The young are fed entirely by regurgitation, not an attractive process, 

 but one admirably suited to the necessities of long foraging expeditions and 

 varying fare. When able tO' leave the nest the fledglings usually clamber 

 about the parental roof-tree for a day or two before taking flight. Their 

 first efforts at obtaining food for themselves are usually made upon the ground, 

 where ants ai^e abundant. These with grasshoppers and other ground- 

 haunting insects make up a large percentage of the food, both of the young and 

 adults. 



In many parts of the state the Flicker has suffered much from ignorant 

 and thoughtless persecution. Indeed, it has been regarded in some quarters 

 as a game bird. To those who have any sense of economic or sentimental 

 values, it must seem a shame to sacrifice such a beautiful, honest, and useful 

 bird for his paltry mouthful of meat. As well shoot Cupid and roast him on a 

 spit. 



