his, she gives them no food for several hours. Through 

 lunger, the little ones are forced to crawl to the upper branches 

 )f the tree, where their parents continue to feed them until they 

 ire able to obtain their own food. 



Other Woodpeckers live altogether in trees, but the Flick- 

 ers are frequently found on the ground searching for insect 

 iood. Ants are especially pleasing to their taste and conse- 

 quently they are often seen exploring ant-hills for a meal. It 

 s said that one Flicker will eat a thousand ants in a day. Wild 

 grapes, elderberries and corn are quite attractive to them in the 

 ■all. 



The Flicker has no bad habits and, hence, he offends no 

 me by his conduct. On the contrary he is much beloved for his 

 jentle and helpful ways and' greatly admired for his grace and 

 )eauty. Being very abundant everywhere east of the Rocky 

 VLountains, he is one of our best known birds. 



BIRD NOTES 



87 



