40 OUR WINTER BIRDS 



purposes. We have seen how It is used to secure, 

 food and make a home, but in addition to being a 

 pick and chisel, it is also a musical instrument ! That 

 is to say, it is a part of a musical instrument — ^the 

 drumstick with which Downy beats a resounding 

 roll on some resonant limb. 



This "br-r-r-r-r-r-r-r-r-up" is Downy's song. A 

 man with a pair of drumsticks could not produce a 

 better tattoo ; that Downy can do so well with only 

 one indicates how rapidly he beats his drum. The 

 little drummer seems to enjoy listening to the echo 

 of his music. He tests first this limb and then that, 

 as though he were looking for one that would pro- 

 duce the loudest noise. The result cannot in truth 

 be called musical, but like White-breast's mirthless 

 laughter, it is one of the pleasing and welcome 

 voices of spring. 



No small part of Downy's skill as a carpenter 

 and drummer is due to the support he receives from 

 his feet and tail. Imagine a Robin clinging to the 

 trunk of a tree and trying to use its bill as Downy 

 does I Even if it had the same kind of bill it could 

 not perch firmly enough to deliver effective blows. 



I once placed a museum specimen of a Wood- 

 pecker in Helen Keller's hands and through her com- 

 panion asked her to tell me what she could discover 

 about its toes. Quickly her sensitive fingers found 



