THE FLICKER 65 



back, above the root of the tail. Every one who 

 has ever walked much over grassy fields must 

 have seen the bird and been struck by this con- 

 spicuous light mark. He must have noticed, 

 too, the bird's peculiar up-and-down, " jumping " 

 manner of flight, by which it goes swooping 

 across the country in long undulations or 

 waves. 



The flicker's general color is brown, with spot- 

 tings and streakings of black, and more or less 

 of violet or lilac shading. On the back of its 

 neck it wears a band of bright scarlet, and across 

 its breast is a conspicuous black crescent. 



It is fond of old apple orchards, and often 

 makes its nest in a decaying trunk. In some 

 places, near the seashore, especially, — where it 

 is commoner than elsewhere in winter, and where 

 large trees are scarce, — it makes enemies by its 

 habit of drilling holes in barns and even in 

 churches. I remember a meeting-house on Cape 

 Cod which had a good number of such holes in 

 its front wall — or rather it had the scars of 

 such holes, for they had been covered with 

 patches of tin. That was a case where going to 

 church might be caUed a bad habit. 



In fall and winter, if not at other seasons, the 

 flicker feeds largely upon berries. In years 

 when the poison ivy bears a good crop, I am 



