336 LAND-BIRDS. 



tions of eastern North America, in many places being com- 

 mon and well known, as is the case in Massachusetts, where, 

 however, they are less numerous in winter. In autumn they 

 may be seen followed by Titmice, Creepers, Nuthatches, and 

 " Wrens," whose society they seem to enjoy, though not them- 

 selves gregarious. They are not only sociable, but are very 

 familiar towards man, showing no alarm at his approach, and 

 preferring orchards, roadsides, and woods about houses or 

 barns, to the forests for which manyjifju^^^'" relations have a 

 marked fondness. Except on t^se points, they are fair types 

 of their whole family. 



They are only partially migratory, and are often resident in 

 one locality throughout the year. They are usually mated 

 for life, and on this account are frfeauently seen in pairs instead 

 of singly. They are active or evenVestless. They sometimes 

 eat berries, or catch insects on the\ wing, but I have never 

 seen them on the ground. They generally pass the day in 

 moving from tree to tree, from which they obtain insects, 

 their larvae and eggs, in the bark or beneath it. They fly in un- 

 dulations, rarely far or high, and alight with both feet on the 

 trunk or larger limbs. They hop about with great ease, but 

 generally move with the head pointing upward. Sometimes 

 they merely pick up their food from the crannies of the bark, 

 but at other times they extract wood-borers and other insects 

 from the wood. For this purpose they dig out small circular 

 holes of about the size made by a large awl, and with these 

 often encircle a large tree. In forming these holes, which are 

 healthful to the trees and not injurious, they draw back their 

 muscular head, and deliver their blows so rapidly as to pro- 

 duce a tremulous sound or rattling, which I find it impossible 

 to imitate even by drumming with all my fingers on a board. 

 They seize their prey by thrusting out their long tongue, 

 which is coated with a sticky fluid. They work at their nest 

 for about a month, chiefly in the early morning and in the 

 after^on. The male and female incubate alternately, and, 

 if ihtruded upon after their young are hatched, exhibit much 

 alarm. They often fly above the heads of men or dogs who 

 may intrude, constantly uttering their loud note of alarm, and 



