FLICKER. 423 



most parts of the country. The Flicker is the most terrestrial of all the Woodpeckers, 

 ill spite of his high-perching and high-nesting proclivities, and may often be seen walking 

 about in the grass like a Meadowlark. . . . 



"As a large part of the food studied consists of ants, the question may be asked 

 whether the birds are doing good or harm in destroying them. There are so many 

 different species of these insects, and they have such widely different habits, that it is 

 difficult to make any assertion that will apply to all, but it is safe to say that many 

 kinds are decidedly harmful, because they attend, protect, and help to spread plant, root, 

 and bark lice of various species. These lice are among the worst enemies of plant life, 

 and everything which tends to prevent their destruction is prejudicial to the interests of 

 agriculture. Other species of ants destroying timber by burrowing in it ; still other, in 

 warmer climates (especially the Southern States, N.), do much harm to fruit trees by 

 cutting off the leaves and undermining the ground. Many species infest houses and other 

 buildings. Apparently, then, birds do not harm in desstroying ants, but on the contrary 

 do much good by keeping within bounds these insect pests, whose greater abundance 

 would be a serious injury to man. The Flicker takes the lead in this work, eating ants 

 to the extent of nearly half of his whole food." 



In his investigations of the stomachs of these Woodpeckers, Prof. Beal also found 

 a great number of all kinds of beetles, grasshoppers, crickets, and two stomachs con- 

 tained each a single bed bug. The berries of the dogwood, blackberry, elder, mulberry, 

 sour gum, smilax, poke- weed, wild grape, wild cherry etc., were found in the stomachs 

 of these birds. 



Among the enemies of this beneficial and beautiful bird man takes the lead. Very 

 often it is a target for such sportsmen, who are low^-minded and churlish enough to fire 

 at every bird they see. The Negroes in the South most especially are to be classed 

 among the enemies of these and all our small migrating songbirds. There ought to be a 

 high tax on all guns in the hands of the lower class in the South as well as in the 

 North. I have seen masses of dead Flickers piled up on the stands in the French Market 

 of New Orleans, and also in Houston, Texas. Nowhere this Woodpecker should be 

 considered a game bird, its meat being as unpalatable to the cultivated taste as that 

 of the Turkey Buzzard. Its main food consists of ants, which impart to it a very 

 peculiar and rather nauseous flavor, which any amount of seasoning and cooking does 

 not disguise. Tree-climbing snakes, raccoons, and opossums also must be ranked among 

 its enemies, as they destroy many broods. 



The Flicker does not climb so much as other Woodpeckers do, obtaining the main 

 part of its food on the ground, probing it for ants, crickets, and beetles. When perching 

 on trees and sttimps, it is mostly not done in the clinging way of other Woodpeckers, 

 but in the manner of the Robin and Thrasher. Its flight, although appearing heavy 

 and laborious, is strong and swift. When flying over large treeless areas, it is undulat- 

 ing or wave-like, but when it proceeds only from tree to tree, it is rather jerky. 



The Flicker is admirably adapted to the cage, becoming easily accustomed to con- 

 finement, and is often kept in good health for many years, provided its keeper satisfies 

 its wants carefully and kindly. I kept several in the cage and all were very pleasant 

 pets. One I kept for more than five years. I fed it with a mixture of Mockingbird-food, 



