80 THE CARPENTER OF THE TVOODS. 
iiig-bird seizes him by the body, and lifts him 
from the ground, and then lets him drop ; 
beating him all the time with his wings. 
Indeed, so fierce is his hatred, that he never 
rests until he has pecked him to death. 
Then he flies back to the tree, and settling 
himself on the highest branch, pours forth a 
torrent of song, as if in praise of his victory. 
CHAPTER VIII. 
THE CARPENTER OF THE WOODS. 
Everybody knows the woodpecker, and has, 
some time or other, seen him run up the tree, 
and tap at it with his long bill. This is his 
way of getting a livelihood ; the insects that 
live beneath the bark serve him for food, and 
his bill is made as sharp and strong as a 
chisel, on purpose to reach them. 
He finds out, by instinct, which tree is 
decayed ; for there he knows he shaU meet 
with plenty of grubs. He runs up the trunk, 
and holding by his hooked claws, and sup- 
porting himself on his stiff, strong tail, he 
