The Hairy JVood^pecker 65 



ingly difficult to make the average farmer believe this, and in 

 winter when these birds are more often seen about the vicinity 

 of dwellings and the neighboring orchards than at any other 

 season of the year, many are shot under the erroneous belief 

 that they injure the very trees they are doing their best to 

 protect. 



The food of this bird, besides larvae, consists of various 

 species of small beetles, spiders, flies, ants, and in winter when 

 such food is scarce to some extent of seeds and grain, and less 

 often of nuts and acorns. I have seen it cling to fresh hides 

 hung up to dry, picking off small particles of fat and meat, 

 and in summer it occasionally eats a few berries of different 

 kinds. In the fall of the year it can often be seen inspecting 

 old fence-posts and telegraph-poles, probably on the lookout 

 for cocoons, spider eggs, etc. 



Like all the Woodpeckers, it is an expert climber, and 

 moves rapidly up and around trees in short hops. It is equally 

 easy for it to go backward or sidewise, and it is astonishing 

 how rapidly it can move in any direction. The strong feet 

 and sharp claws enable it to hold firmly to the bark, and the 

 stiff spiny tail feathers also come in play while it is at work, 

 acting as a support for the body, which is well thrown back 

 when a blow is delivered with its powerful chisel-like bill. 



Although usually rather shy, when busy in search of food 

 one will occasionally allow itself to be very closely approached. 

 I have seen one alight on the trunk of a crab-apple tree 

 within three feet of me and deliberately commence search- 

 ing for larvae, apparently perfectly unconcerned about my 

 presence, and when I moved up a little closer he simply 

 hopped around on the opposite side of the tree and continued 

 his search. Every once in a while, however, his head would 

 appear from behind the tree to see if I were still watching him. 



6 



