1892
July 7
(No 8)
Concord, Massachusetts.
History of Flicker's nest.
Mass.
Concord.- the top of their burrow and the five pink-lined
mouths would be opened wide all clamoring loudly
for food. Standing on the edge of the hole the parent
would select one - usually the nearest I thought - and
bending forward and down would drive his bill to
its base into the gaping mouth which instantly closed
tightly around it when the head and bill of the
parent were worked up and down with great rapidity 
for from one to one and one half seconds (timed with a 
stop watch) the young meanwhile holding on desperately
and apparently [delete]?[/delete] never once losing its grasp although
its poor little head was jerked up and down most violently.
The first or entering downward thrust of the parents
bill looked like a vicious stab the bird apparently
striking with all his force & as if with the design of
piercing his offspring to the vitals. The subsequent 
up and down motion was invariably rapid and regular
and resembled the bill movement of a Woodpecker while
"drumming". It also suggested the stroke of a piston.
It was always accompanied by a marked,[delete] and [/delete]
equally rapid and apparently [delete] or [/delete] corresponding twitching of the tail
and hinder parts of the body and a slighter
movement of the wings.
  As already stated the contact of bills lasted from
one minute to a minute and a quarter. At its
termination the parent would suddenly resume an
erect position and look keenly around at the same
time opening and shutting his bill, running out his 
tongue and working the upper portion of the throat
slightly. This action puzzled me at first. It 
looked as if the bird were at first tasting and afterwards