154 DOWNY WOODPECKER 



indefatigable 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, capacious, 

 and as smooth as if polished by the cabinet maker; but the en- 

 trance is judiciously left just so large as to admit the body of the 

 owner. 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 occasion- 

 ally 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, 

 and generally succeeds in driving them off. 1 saw some weeks 

 ago a striking example of this, where the Woodpeckers we are now 

 describing, after commencing in a cherry tree, within a few yards 

 of the house, and having made considerable progress, were turned 

 out by the Wren : the former began again on a pear tree in the 

 garden, fifteen or twenty yards off, whence, after digging out a most 

 complete apartment, and one egg being laid, they were once more 

 assaulted by the same impertinent intruder, and finally forced to 

 abandon the place. 



The principal characteristics of this little bird are diligence, 

 familiarity, perseverance, and a strength and energy in the head 



