The daily morning journal and courier. [volume] (New Haven, Conn.) 1894-1907, 1902-11-08
TWO NorABLE wooDPEoKERs

Woodpeckers belong to one of
the best known of all bird families,
With the exception of the two islands,
Australia and Madagascar, there is no
considerable tract of woodland in the
world which is not inhabited by one
or more Of the three hundred and fifty
species OF which this great family
is composed.
Few birds are so well equipped for
the work they have to do in the world
and none are more persevering and
industrious. Some of our feathered
friends have periods of rest; times
during which they perch about, doing
nothing in particular, but / have never
seen woodpecker when he was
not busy at something. 1t might be
wood-cutting or 1t might be courtship,
but he was always working as though
he had not a minute to lose.
AS their name implies, all woodpeck-
ers peck wood, usually the wood of
standing trees, dead or living, in Or
der to feed on insects or larvae Turk
ing beneath the surface, to hollow out
cavities in which to lay their eggs.
or to produce sounds which may at
tract other individuals of the same
species. And to observe how Nature
has fitted these birds for their pecul-s
lar mode of living is to receive an
instructive object lesson in ornithol-
ogy. In the first place, the arrange
ment of their toes. two in front and
two behind, Except in the case of the
three toed woodpeckers), makes it
easy for them to climb, creep, hang
upside down and cling to upright sur
faces, while engaged in their opera
tions on the trunks and branches of
trees. The tail feathers are stiff and
pointed, and when pressed inward
against tree, serve as a prop and re-
lieve the strain on the feet. The bill
is strongly made and f1attened toward
the end to a chisel edge, forming an
admirable tool for cutting wood, and
the tongue. which can be projected
for a considerable distance beyond the
mandibles. has a sharp, horny. barbed
tip, designed for spearing and draw
ing out the insects and larvae as fast
as they are uncovered. To protect the
brain from the violent jolting to which
it would otherwise be subjected, it is
covered with tough and elastic men,
brane Altogether. woodpeckers have
been well provided for, and they seem
to show their appreciation Of benefits
received by the enthusiasm they put
into their work.
Even the small species, like the
downy, hairy and red-headed wood
peckers, are very industrious, and do
a great deal of work, for their size,
but it is the work Of pigmies when
compared with the achievements of
the giants of the family. Not long ago
I saw a tree which had been worked
on by pibeated woodpecker or log
cock and even for one familiar with
the species, it was difficult to believe
that any bird could do so much hard
work The trunk was about two feet
in diameter and the wood, although
dead, was quite solid. A channel sew
eral inches wide, and deep enough to
reach the heart of the tree, extended
round the trunk in spiral for a dis
lance of several feet The woodpeck-
er had done as much work as would
have been necessary to cut down
three or four trees of the same size.
This splendid woodpecker, which
was at one time to be found in wooded
regions throughout North America.
is now rare bird in most parts OF
it's range. In the cypress swamps of
some of the southern states it is still
common, but in many localities it has
been completely eXterminated The
great Wilson. in whose time this
woodpecker was common bird. thus
pays tribute to it's Almost
every old trunk in the forest, where he
resides, bears the marks of his chisel.
Wherein he perceives tree going to
decap, he examines it round and round
with great skill and dexterity, strips
off the bark in sheets of FIVE or six
feet in length, to get at the hidden
cause Of the disease, and labors with
a gayety and activity really surprising.