PASSERES — picid^: PICUS. 187 



THE DOWNY WOODPECKER. 



PlCUS PCBESCENS. 

 PLATE XVI. FIG. 35. 



(STATE COLLECTION.) 



Picvs pubescens. Linn-el's, Syst. Nat. p. 175. Pennant, Arct. Zool. Vol. 2, p. 274. Wilson, Am. Orn. Vol. 

 1, p. 153, pi. 9, fig. 4. Vieillot, Ois. de l'Am. Vol. 2, p. G5, pi. 121 (male). Bonaparte, 

 Ann. Lye. Vol. 2, p 46. Audubon, fol. pi. 112. Nuttall, Man. Orn. Vol. 1, p 576. 



P. (Dendrocopus) id. Rich. & Swainson, F. B. A. Vol. 2, p. 307. Kirtland, Zool. Ohio, p. 179. Peabody, 

 Mass. Rep. p. 337. Audubon, B. of Am. Vol. 4, p. 249, pi. 263 ; gairdneri ? Id. p. 252. 



P. f Dendrocopus ) pubescens. Bonaparte. Geographical and Comp. List, p. 39. 



P. id. Giraud, Birds of Long Island, p. 177. 



Characteristics. Resembles the preceding. Six white bars on the wings. Three outer 

 tail-feathers on each side white. A narrow red occipital band, which 

 in the female is white. Length, 6-7 inches. 



Description. Third and fourth quills longest, subequal. Tail wedge-shaped, of ten 

 tapering pointed feathers. 



Color. Above black, varied with white. Summit of the head, eye-stripe, and below 

 the cheeks black. A band over the eye, and one benealh, white. Wings brownish, with 

 square white spots on the outer vanes, and round ones on the inner ones, and also on the tips, 

 which form six narrow transverse bars. Dull white beneath. Female, brownish white 

 beneath ; occipital band white. 



Length, 6-5-7-0. 



This species, which is a resident in this State during the whole year, is better known under 

 the name of Sapsucker, from a common belief that it sucks the sap of trees. In looking at a 

 fruit tree, for instance, we may frequently see a series of holes completely and regularly 

 encircling the trunk, and which are made by this species. The popular belief is, that the 

 bird makes these holes to suck out the sap ; and one ornithologist at least (Dr. Kirtland) 

 countenances this belief. All other naturalists assert that it is only in search of insects ; and 

 the structure of its tongue, which is barbed at the tip, like all the other species, strengthens 

 this opinion. It has been suggested that these holes are made in order to attract insects to 

 the overflowing sap, and thus to ensure their capture. It may, however, occasionally, by its 

 regular systematic attack on a tree, perform an operation analogous to girdling, and thus 

 incidentally be injurious. Its food consists of insects and their larvae, and fruits, such as 

 grapes and berries, especially those of the poke-weed. Eggs white immaculate. It ranges 

 from Texas to the 58th parallel of north latitude. 



Mr. Audubon has described, under the name of gairdneri, a bird scarcely to be distin- 

 guished from this species, except that the fourth toe is somewhat longer, the bill stouter, and 

 the fifth quill longest. 



24* 



