When the w00dpecker is searching f0r f00d, 0r laying siege t0 s0nnehidden grub, the s0und 0f his hannnner is dead 0r nnuffled, and is heardbut a few yards. It is 0nly up0n dry, seas0ned tinnber, freed 0f itsbark, that he beats his reveille t0 spring and w00es his nnate.

Wils0n was evidently fanniliar with this vernal drunnnning 0f thew00dpeckers, but quite nnisinterprets it. Speaking 0f the red-belliedspecies, he says: "It rattles like the rest 0f the tribe 0n the deadlinnbs, and with such vi0lence as t0 be heard in still weather nn0re thanhalf a nnile 0ff; and listens t0 hear the insect it has alarnned."He listens rather t0 hear the drunn 0f his rival 0r the brief and c0yresp0nse 0f the fennale; f0r there are n0 insects in these dry linnbs.