St. Tammany farmer. [volume] (Covington, La.) 1874-current, 1899-11-25
NOVEL BATTLE IN THE WOODS.
Squirrel and Woodpecker Engage In
Warmly WaEed Connlct for
Their Home.

wcll-known sportsman of Mime.
apolis writes the following account oi
an adventure in the squirrel timber
which cannot fail to interest those ia.
miliar with the habits of the bushy.
tailed varmint that furnishes such fine
sport in October days: Il was sitting
with my back against a log in the deep
woods one October morning watching
for two squirrels that were hiding in
the top of great walnut tree. One
OF the squirrels l had shot at and
missed, whereupCn ii scampered up the
tree in question, followed by another
one of its kind to the topmost branches.
A patient examination of all the limbs
failed to disclose to my eyes so much
the game moved.
~ half-hour passed, by which time
every knot and bunch of leaves had be,
come familiar to me. There was a very
large limb that extended out from the
tree in horizontal direction for ten
feet. then bent upward gradually. On
its under side there was hole such rs
gray squirrel might fancy. Present.
~ a saucy woodpecker. resplendent in
red and white and black. scuttled down
the limb in search of food. Instantly
my full attention was directed to it in
the hope that its actions might betray
TO me the location of the two squirrels.
''Down came the woodpecker after
the halting. jerky manner of its kind.
but suddenly it stopped short, then
flew up and alighted further down the
limb. At the same time there was a
flash of gray near the hole in the limb
and some small creature disappeared
within. had never before noticed any
ruffi;ng up of the feathers on a wood
pecker's neck as an indication of anger
or what not, but this one was either
startled or angry, for its neck feathers
tie camp robbers of the west. But no
matter what its feelings were, the
sidled up to the hole and
peeked in. with its head cooked first |
to one side, then to that.
1T is customary with all good wood |
peckers, like policemen, to rattle for
assistance when they believe they have |
corralled a bigger bargain than they
ran make away with unaided. but this
one did nothing of the sort, as it seemed
dubious as to whether its game was
really cornered. Finally it decided to
lake a look inside. so it ducked its
head and crept in very gingerly and
'ery slowly. A moment of silence fol-
owed. then all at once bunch of feath-
RS was literally fired out of the hole.
much after the fashion of a young
mans hurried exit from would-be
door. 1t was the wood
,ecker. 1t found its wings after head.
ong tumble of several feet, perched
IN nearby branch and glared across
It the hole in the limb. seemingly un-
Iecided what to do, though full of
ight.
II was puzzled to know what was in
hat hollow limb, but the woodpecker
oon settled all doubts by flying across
o the hole with neck feathers ruffled
nd blood in his eye. No sooner had
alighted than . flying squirrel dart
d out of the hole and pounced on it.
9th finally alighting on a lower limb.
hen followed a game of hide-and-seek.
nth the woodpecker forcing the fight.
'p ard down. round and round the
mbs and back and forth from one to
he other they went. Sometimes the
ying squirrel-evidently dazed by the
turn and pursue its
nemy blindly, and then the bird would
estate, whereupon the squirrel final
made dash and gained the dark in
,rior of its former place of refuge.
How this interesting encounter may
ave terminated it is impossible to say.
,r at that moment / saw one of my .
luirrels peeping over the fork of an
fher branch and the shot fred at it .
roke up the little game which had ,
zen fortunate enough to witness.
hicago Chronicle. ?