IN FEATHERS AXD FUR. Ill 
You'd hardly believe me if I said he had three legs, but he 
might as well have another leg, as the useful little tail he has. It 
is no straggling feathery affair, like a roosters, or a peacock's. By 
no means ! It is short and stiff, and when he is at work he props 
himself up with it, so that, as I said before, he might about as well 
have three legs. 
When he wants his dinner, he flies from tree to tree, tapping 
away to find out if there are any little worms hidden away under 
the bark, or in any crack or hole. If he finds a hole, he runs his 
long slim tongue in, and as it is sticky at the end it brings out 
every unfortunate worm it touches. If they're too snugly hidden 
under the bark, the sharp little pickaxe chops off great pieces of 
bark, till he lays open the hiding place, and that's the last ever 
heard of the little worms. 
One summer I was visiting in a very pleasant country house, 
where the roof was low, and came down nearly to my window. 
Every morning, just at the time when one wants to turn over and 
take another delicious nap, I used to be annoyed by a loud knocking. 
At first I thought it was at the door, and asked who was there, 
expecting to hear that breakfast was ready ; but no one answered, 
and I found myself wide awake and much disgusted. After having 
the delightful nap spoiled several days, I became curious about it, 
and resolved to set a watch for the troublesome knocker, whoever 
he was. 
After listening carefully, I thought the sound came in at the 
open window. Quietly and carefully I put my head out, looked up 
to the roof, and there I saw the saucy red head, and bright mock- 
ing eyes of a — woodpecker, looking over at me. He gave a sort 
of low chuckle to himself and flew away, and never again disturbed 
my morning nap. 
These pretty birds have three enemies: a black snake who 
delights to crawl into the snug house in the tree, eat up the eggs, 
and live there himself ; secondly, a ridiculous little dumpy wren, 
who'll steal into the comfortable house before the eggs are laid, and 
actually scold and fight the honest owners off, then lay her own 
eggs, and bring up her funny wren babies there ; and, worst of all, 
I'm sorry to say, thoughtless boys, who like to steal away the 
pretty white eggs. Perhaps when they know how hard the poor 
little fellows have worked to make the home, they'll let them alone. 
The woodpecker I've been telling about, is the common red 
