HAIRY WOODPECKER 193 



June 5, 1857. In that first apple tree at Wyman's an 

 apparent hairy woodpecker's nest (from the size of the 

 bird), about ten feet from ground. The bird darts 

 away with a shrill, loud chirping of alarm, incessantly 

 repeated, long before I get there, and keeps it up as 

 long as I stay in the neighborhood. The young keep up 

 an incessant fine, breathing peep which can be heard 

 across the road and is much increased when they hear 

 you approach the hole, they evidently expecting the old 

 bird. I perceive no offensive odor. I saw the bird fly 

 out of this hole, May 1st, and probably the eggs were 

 laid about that time. 



Oct. 16, 1859. See a hairy woodpecker on a burnt 

 pitch pine. He distinctly rests on his tail constantly. 

 With what vigor he taps and bores the bark, making 

 it fly far and wide, and then darts off with a sharp 

 whistle ! 



May 18, 1860. A hairy woodpecker betrays its hole 

 in an apple tree by its anxiety. The ground is strewn 

 with the chips it has made, over a large space. The 

 hole, so far as I can see, is exactly like that of the 

 downy woodpecker, — the entrance (though not so 

 round) and the conical form within above, — only 

 larger. The bird scolds at me from a dozen rods off. 



DOWNY WOODPECKER 



March 24, 1853. The downy (?) woodpeckers are 

 quite numerous this morning, the skirts of their coats 

 barred with white and a large, long white spot on their 

 backs. They have a smart, shrill peep or whistle, some- 

 what like a robin, but more metallic. 



