. Useful birds and their protection. Containing brief descriptions of the more common and useful species of Massachusetts, with accounts of their food habits, and a chapter on the means of attracting and protecting birds . usetts. The Flicker, our largest and most common Woodpecker, iswell known, in some one or more of its various forms, overthe greater part of temperate America. It has over thirtyvernacular names, a few of the most common of which are-given above. A loud ivtck, 2vick, is the Flickers announce-ment that spring has come. Its amorous unck-er, ivick-er,wick-er, sounds from the or
. Useful birds and their protection. Containing brief descriptions of the more common and useful species of Massachusetts, with accounts of their food habits, and a chapter on the means of attracting and protecting birds . usetts. The Flicker, our largest and most common Woodpecker, iswell known, in some one or more of its various forms, overthe greater part of temperate America. It has over thirtyvernacular names, a few of the most common of which are-given above. A loud ivtck, 2vick, is the Flickers announce-ment that spring has come. Its amorous unck-er, ivick-er,wick-er, sounds from the orchards in early spring, as the malebirds play about in curious antics, each trying in friendlyrivalr> to outdo the other in the display of his golden beauty,that he may thus attract and hold the admiration of thefemale. There is no fighting, but in its place an exhibitionof all the airs and graces that the rival dandies can extravagant, comical gestures, rai)idly changing atti-tudes, and exuberant cries, all seem laughable to the onlooker,but evidently give pleasure to the birds. Their notes onsuch occasions have considerable variety, and are all pleasing. SONGLESS BIRDS OF ORCHARD AND WOODLAND. 261. This bird often beats a long roll on a resonant flying away it is easily identified by the showy whitepatch on the rump, and when it flies overhead its goldenwings and tail are plainly shown. It is rather a shy bird, and it has reason to be, for, inspite of the law protecting it, the Flicker is hunted in mostparts of its range. It is not a typical Woodpecker. Itsbill is slightly curved,and its tongue has fewerterminal barbs than anyother North Americanspecies. But the tongueis one of the longest, itis studded on the uppersurface wath line pointsdirected backward, andthe salivary glands arelarge ; in fiict, this birdis more of an ant-eaterthan a Woodpecker. Itfrequents fields, or-chards, and open spaces in the woods, where it strikes itslong bill into ant
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