The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1903-06-14

A red head and fiery temper. this is
a familiar folks saying. but two OF my
rec. headed neighbors show the sweetest
temper, the loveliest patience, under
persecution that might have tried the
souls OF saints much less of birds, tor
these especial members OF the large req
headed family OF woodpeckers. were tnes
high holes, yellow hammers. golden WINGS
or flckers, the most beautiful ana Bra.i
cious to my mind OF all their tribe. \
have watched them as householders sum
mar q fter summer, and though one must
admit the baby high holes are very petu-
lent, exacting and much given to crying.
or as they grow older. shouting aloun lot
what they desire. the parents are genie
and serene. AID meet the fierce httachs
OF angry vireos and passionate orloles
with the utmost sweetness. Only wren
this becomes quite unbearable. the male
Bird made 1t n point to appear on a
neighooring bough when the hour came
for the mother to forage for her 'llte
Zone. Then they would fly silently away
together into the cool green WOODS loo
large and powerful pair tor smaller Toes
to NEEDLE with. and no return to their
domicile high UP in the old locust tree
II his protection was not SO urgently
needed. however, he simply visited ms
home at odd hours, never seeming qu'ts
sure In which Of the many holes MS ta ian
ily resided. He began to be frequently
on hand when the trying time LOT re-
moving the lazy youngsters arrived. anu
1t was his habit 10 take half OF the babies
under his own charge when they started
farther into the new world
In the spring. when they arrive N
flocks. and the woong begins, the males
ARE very jovial birds. having many loua
and rather pleasant calls | never recog-
| nized the laugh" but the salutatlon -
| the rival is unmistakable, and his ron
Ing tattoo Nand mellow notes always ex-
! press a hearty enjoyment OF living none
! OF tho woodpeckers are Of more beautiful
! and varied plumage from the soft blue
gray Of tho head, the rich brown OF the
| breast. and OF the wings lined with gold,
| tho scarlet across the back OF the neck,
ana the effective bars. spots and cres-
cent Of vevety black. There IS also an
| exquisite wina-lika glow In certain lignts
| over head. throat and breast. and nasn
| of snowy white that shows In the 1agEt
| of the bird.
Tho largest of the woodpeckers here
| is the Plleated or crested woodpecker,
| a large shining black bird. with white
| strlnes nsthe side of head and a
splendid scarlet crest. known familiarly
| as the log cock. This name suits II we'll.
for I often saw 1t running over the fallen
| logs with its mate. or summing itself on
| one, and repeating Its odd. gutteral love-
| notes. while slicing over large bits OF
! bark from the sides. in curious slde-
wise fashion. It Is notyery shy, and the
| male, or. indeed, the family later N the
| season, was often to be seen in the big
| oaks or chestnut trees very near the
| house. They Else to fly with call.
( Quick! Quick! and have variety Of
notes, some resembling those of tho
| Thicker. female that ] examined
| closely after she was shot had an en-
1 auis!tely silyery pale lemon tinted lin-
Eng TO her wings dfllcately marked
I with waving lines. At a little distance
4 her wings would probably have seemed
white underneath. SO fine was the mark
Ing and tinting.
| Another woodpecker. the red -bellled or
Carolina is barred In black and white
| all over and wears splendid scarlet
! hood down on the shoulders, It's powerful
| bill strikes one with Arrangement. 1t Is a
/ shyer bird than the logcock, has hoarse
/ note and curious perky way of climb
Ing trees, always with a look ms If hiding
The common red-headed woodpecker
| strikes the eye at once with Its broad
masses of white, black and crimson. close
to the very bill OF the bird. The miniature
! birds, brown, q NOTED brown and white.
are very demura looking beside their
handsome parents. They are locally abun-
cunt, out tNelr noisy Calls are anything
but musical. and they are not half so
Perhaps, should give the precedence
to the larger woodpecker, the hairy, SO
like tho doWny, except for certain bar
that they could not be distinguished apart
II the downy We're not copy in nlinia-
ture However. we know very little of the
hairy woodpecker, II rarely comes near
houses. and has no fancy for telegraph
poles and fences like the red-heads. but
prefers the depths of the forest. There is
a decided interval between the raps in
tho tattoo of the hairy. while the downy.'s
Is an unbroken roll, Our smallest wood,
pecker is very social and not easily
frightened. 1t comes with a CHEEKY, rat
thing call, very different from the whim-
no JOSH uns o. VaSuel I'M mo Jl9s3I Su
-uoleIls 10 ,s}ossuI Pus sanIs 5ul2las sue
wooing time nj the fietners, redheads
itis worth while to visit the place in tbs
spreading bough, Burroughs. gives
blithe mood. like the gay bachelor ne Is
all the winter season. This. by the way,
~ my only charge against the little fell
low the NerX careless way In Which he