A YEAR WITH THE BIRDS 
559 
plates in the camera. It was interesting to note his position on the 
plank. When he was eating, his tail was braced to steady his body. 
He did not stand on his feet, except when I attracted his attention by 
tapping on the window, but when eating put his feet out in front of him 
in a most peculiar manner. This position enabled him to draw his 
head far back and gave more power to the stroke of his bill, and shows 
that Woodpeckers are not adapted for board-walking. 
Of course the smaller Downy Woodpeckers were around; they al- 
ways are in the orchard toward spring. I also had a flock of Redpolls 
come a number of times after a little bare spot of ground began to 
show, but, although they ate seeds I put on the ground, they would not 
come up on the lunch counter and did not stay very long. Beautiful 
Pine Grosbeaks came, too, but they preferred picking up the seeds they 
found under the maple trees. The American Goldfinches, in their 
Quaker winter dresses, called, but the seeds on some weeds in the 
garden just peeping above the snow pleased them better than a more 
elaborate lunch, and saying “ per-chic-o-ree ” they would leave. — F. A. 
V an Sant, Jay, N. Y., in Bird-Lore. 
Ed. 
36 
