You have learned that insects and apple-scab and yourselves all try to see who shall own the apple fruit. Now you know that birds, and insects that feed on leaves and in the wood, are also concerned in this quarrel about the apple.
A Few Things To Observe.
1. Does the downy woodpecker travel down a tree head first or does he hop backward?
2. Try some day to see his feet. You will find that two of his toes are turned forward and two backward. Are there other birds that have this arrangement of toes?
Fig. 327. The downy woodpecker.
3. Notice that he braces himself with his tail as he works.
4. Do you ever see the downy woodpecker eat seeds of plants that the farmers do not like to have on their land?