THE RED-HEADED WOODPECKER. 139 



ness for fruit and green corn has given them a repu- 

 tation anything but enviable. The finest and ripest 

 of the fruit are generally selected to gratify their 

 desires ; and so keen is their relish for the early pro- 

 ductions of the orchard, that a well-loaded cherry- 

 tree will sometimes be entirely stripped of its cher- 

 ries before the owner has fairly tasted them. The 

 pear and the apple-tree are equally the objects of 

 their regard ; and should one be molested during his 

 depredations upon these, he will coolly thrust his bill 

 into as fine an apple or pear as he can, and bear it 

 away in his flight to the woods. Much of the mis- 

 chief which is done to the young corn, which is at- 

 tributed to the Blackbirds, is undoubtedly the work 

 of this Woodpecker, as he will strip off the husk 

 from the ear almost in a twinkling, and regale himself 

 at leisure with its juicy contents. These depreda- 

 tions are, however, more the exception than the rule ; 

 his natural food is insects, and the amount of these 

 which he annually destroys, will more than compen- 

 sate for the fruit and corn with which he varies his 

 diet. We would, therefore, recommend him to the 

 protection of every one. He is a bright, sprightly, 

 and attractive companion during our country strolls, 

 and cannot fail to afford us pleasure wherever we 

 meet him. 



The Golden-winged Woodpecker, or Flicker, as 

 he is commonly called, although not so conspicuous 

 for his beauty as the preceding, is nevertheless a 

 handsome and showy bird. The upper parts of the 

 plumage are dull bluish-grey upon the head, shading 



