DOWNY WOODPECKER. j^g 



first part of this charge I shall not pretend to deny ; how far 

 the other is founded in truth will appear in the sequel. Like 

 the two former species, it remains with us the whole year. 

 About the middle of May, the male and female look out for 

 a suitable place for the reception of their eggs and young. 

 An apple, pear, or cherry tree, often in the near neighbour- 

 hood of the farmhouse, is generally fixed upon for this pur- 

 pose. The tree is minutely reconnoitered for several days 

 previous to the operation, and the work is first begun by the 

 male, who cuts out a hole in the solid wood as circular as if 

 described with a pair of compasses. He is occasionally relieved 

 by the female, both parties working with the most indefatig- 

 able diligence. The direction of the hole, if made in the body 

 of the tree, is generally downwards, by an angle of thirty or 

 forty degrees, for the distance of six or eight inches, and then 

 straight down for ten or twelve more ; within roomy, capa- 

 cious, and as smooth as if polished by the cabinetmaker ; but 

 the entrance is judiciously left just so large as to admit the 

 bodies of the owners. During this labour, they regularly 

 carry out the chips, often strewing them at a distance to 

 prevent suspicion. This operation sometimes occupies the 

 chief part of a week. Before she begins to lay, the female 

 often visits the place, passes out and in, examines every part 

 both of the exterior and interior with great attention, as every 

 prudent tenant of a new house ought to do, and at length takes 

 complete possession. The eggs are generally six, pure white, 

 and laid on the smooth bottom of the cavity. The male occa- 

 sionally supplies the female with food while she is sitting ; 

 and about the last week in June the young are perceived 

 making their way up the tree, climbing with considerable 

 dexterity. All this goes on with great regularity where no 

 interruption is met with; but the house wren, who also builds 

 in the hollow of a tree, but who is neither furnished with the 

 necessary tools nor strength for excavating such an apartment 

 for himself, allows the woodpeckers to go on, till he thinks 

 it will answer his purpose, then attacks them with violence, 



