The squirrels, leaving their accustomed feeding-grounds, betook themselves to the leafy oaks to gnaw out the acorn stores of the provident woodpeckers, but the latter kept up a vigilant watch upon their movements.

I noticed four woodpeckers in league against one squirrel, driving the poor fellow out of an oak that they claimed.

He dodged round the knotty trunk from side to side, as nimbly as he could in his famished condition, only to find a sharp bill everywhere.

But the fate of the bees that year seemed the saddest of all.

In different portions of Los Angeles and San Diego counties, from one half to three fourths of them died of sheer starvation.