1 882.] The Acorn-storing Habit of the California Woodpecker. 357 



then put a chip on the spot, perhaps the latter as a mulch ; then 

 flew away, found another acorn, which it accidentally dropped in 

 a growth of periwinkle (myrtle), and after searching for it with- 

 out finding it, gave up and flew away. 



As it is hardly presumable that the jays plant either the 

 corn or the thistle for the purpose of perpetuating those species 

 of plants with the object of obtaining food from future crops, it is 

 likely that being full fed at the time, with appetites satisfied, they 

 simply buried the seed for future need, as a dog buries a bone, 

 and forgot all about it, or not needing the same, the seeds 

 remained where the birds planted them, until they germinated and 



The holes made by the woodpeckers in the bark of trees also 

 serve as a lurking place for beetles, ants and other insects, so that 

 both vegetable and animal food are brought together side by side 

 to furnish a meal in time of need, in which perhaps the jays some- 

 times participate. Judging by the tree herein described, it would 

 seem as if there were enough for all. 



Mr. Bice is of the opinion that the acorns are stored simply for 

 the larvae, which the carpintero eats after the maggot has attained 

 a good size. He also relates the following, which is worthy of 

 note : " On cutting down a hollow oak on his father's place, a 

 woodpecker's nest was discovered after the tree had fallen, and a 

 young bird of the carpintero species was found and caught, being 

 unable to fly. It was carefully reared, and became a great pet 

 with the family. After it had reached maturity and was perfectly 

 able to fly, though no restraint was placed upon it, it would come 

 at once in answer to call, leaving its fellows in the trees. Upon 

 one occasion, when the family went several miles from home to 

 visit a friend, the bird followed them, though at the time they 

 were not aware of it, and only learned the fact from the friend 

 whom they had visited, and who caught and kept the bird until 

 an opportunity offered for returning it. Probably if it had not 

 been caught it would have followed the family back." 



There is a larger species of woodpecker, with plumage much 

 resembling that of M. formic ivonts, which sometimes appears in 

 flocks and helps itself, or tries to do so, to the stores laid up by 

 'I carpintero, who bravely fights the maurauder. I have been 

 unable to learn to what species these depredators belong. 



