The Sapsucker I23
the one keeping vigil that the time for the relief was due. At all events, the call was frequently answered from the branches near and sometimes by the coming of the absent mate. The Warbling Vireo also has this habit of singing while on the nest, as does also the Chebec, or Least Flycatcher. with its unmusical hiccough. NIy Yellow-throats were very faithful to their young, of which there were three. The male bird fed them as attentively as did the mother.
7. On July 7, nearly a month from the beginning of the brooding, the first young bird left the nest. It seemed to take good care of itself, keep— ing to the trees, and the next day the other two followed it. One of these found its way to the lawn, and as there was danger about in the shape of cats, I played the Good Samaritan. lifting it up to a twig of the tree. In doing this the little creature caught its feet about my little finger. It seemed as if I should never be able to loosen its hold. I never could have believed such strength of clutch possible in so tiny a subject I But then I was able to understand why they had been able to keep to the nest. The elm tree which had been their home stood close by the northwest corner of the house. Through many thunder storms which came to us in that month of June I have seen that slight branch from the body of the elm whip in the blast as if it would be torn from its setting in the great trunk. The nest would be top-down and driven every way, and yet never a fledgling fell from its place. No wonder there had come a development of clutching power!
The Sapsucker
BY EDITH M. THOMAS
A bacchant for sweets is the Sapsucker free! "The spring is here. and I‘m thirsty!" quoth he: uThere's good drink, and plenty, stored up in this cave: ‘Tis ready to breach! ” quoth the Sapsuclter brave.
A bacchant for sweets! " 'Tis nectar I seek!" And he raps on the tree with his sharp-whetted beak: And he drinks, in the wild NIarch wind and the sun, The coveted drops, as they start and run.
He girdles the maple round and round— ‘Tis heart»blood he drinks at each sweet wound; And his bacchanal song is the tap»tap-tap, That brings from the dark, the clearflowing sap. I
