52 OUR FRIENDS, THE BIRDS. 
which law-makers have not yet decided to protect. 
Sometimes a tree is found girdled with holes made by 
the Woodpecker, and we conclude that the tree will 
die. (Though it does not always die.) Sometimes we 
catch the ‘red-head’ eating corn or cherries, and straight- 
way forget how many beetles and larve he has eaten 
before he takes his dessert. 
‘““The Woodpecker is not a singer, he is a drum- 
mer. Have you ever been toa Thomas Concert? If 
you have, perhaps you have noticed at the back of the 
stage, almost out of sight, several drummers. They 
each had a part in the great orchestra, and yet, taken 
alone, their music would not be altogether agreeable. 
So, it seems to me, that the Woodpecker would be 
missed if left out of the great summer orchestra. He 
often drums ‘for fun’ or, perhaps, to give expression to 
the gladness of life, as other birds sing. Laura’s aunt 
once wrote a story for her about the ‘Wickey.’ This is 
the Flicker or Golden-winged Woodpecker. She may 
read it to us.” . 
“WICKEY.” 
The son of a friend of mine, with the aid of a five- 
cent piece, once rescued from the hands of some rough 
boys a young Flicker, or Golden-winged Woodpecker. 
Too young to fly, with only pin-feathers on its 
wings, it had dropped, or been taken from the nest. 
He brought it home, saying, ‘Mother, can we not 
keep this bird until it is able to fly?” 
