“When the bird bores the holes and the sap oozes out, a great many insects gather to feed on it—­hornets, wasps, spiders, beetles, flies, and other kinds.  These the Sapsucker also eats, sweeping them up in the sap with his tongue, which is not barbed like that of other Woodpeckers, but has a little brush on the end of it, shaped something like those we use for cleaning lamp chimneys.  In this way he can easily lick up great quantities of both sap and insects.  You will not probably see him before autumn, for he nests northward from Massachusetts; but you can write down his table now, and then be on the watch for him.”

The Yellow-Bellied Sapsucker

Length about eight and a half inches.

Upper parts mixed black, while, and dull yellowish; wings and tail black, with much white on both; crown scarlet in the male.

Under parts light yellow on the belly, scarlet on the throat, black on the breast, and with black marks on the sides.

A Citizen of eastern North America, roving further north than most Woodpeckers and wintering as far south as Central America.  A useful bird in wild places, but unwelcome in gardens and orchards, and not a good neighbor.

A member only of the guild of Tree Trappers.

“I wonder if I shall see the little Downy,” said Dodo, as she skipped down the road to the woods between her uncle and Nat.

“Don’t hop so,” said Nat; “it doesn’t do at all when you are bird-hunting.  Rap says you must go quietly, and not swing your arms either, for it frightens birds more than even a scarecrow.”

“It is very hard to keep still when you are bursting with hurry to get somewhere,” answered Dodo very meekly, but not wholly able to resist an occasional jump.

“I’ll show you the way,” said Nat.  “The little Downy’s tree was beside the footpath on top of the river bank.  But the bird has gone!”

The Flicker

Length twelve inches.

Upper parts brown barred with black; the rump snow-white; the head gray with a scarlet band on the back of it.

Under parts crowded with round black spots; a large black patch on the breast; throat lilac; the male with a pair of black moustaches, which, of course, the female does not have.

Under side of wings and tail almost all golden-yellow, even the shafts of the feathers being of this rich color.

A Citizen of eastern North America, west sometimes to the Pacific Ocean.  Spends the winter in the southern half of his range.

This Woodpecker is not only a beautiful, but a useful, Citizen, doing almost as much work in the guild of Ground Gleaners as the Meadowlark, besides being a Tree Trapper and Seed Sower.

CHAPTER XXIV

TWO ODD FELLOWS

“KUK—­kuk—­kuk!  Crcok—­c-r-o-c-k—­c-r-o-c-k!” cried a harsh voice from the wood edge.