PASSERES PICID^E — PICUS. 189 



THE RED-BELLIED WOODPECKER. 



PlCUS CAROLINUS. 

 PLATE XVII. FIG. 37. 



(STATE COLLECTION.) 



Picus carotinus. Linnsus, Syst. Nat. p. 174. Pennant, Arct. Zool. Vol. 2, p. 272. Wilson, Am. Orn. Vol. 1, 

 p. 113, pi. 7, fig. 2 (male). Addubon, folio, pi. 415. Bonaparte, Ann. Lye. N. Y. Vol. 

 2, p. 45. Nuttall, Man. Ornith. Vol. 1, p. 572. Peabody, Birds of Mass. p. 336, Aod. 

 B. of A. Vol. 4, p. 269, pi. 270. 



Centurus id. Swainson & Bonaparte. 



Characteristics. Above barred with black and white. Cheeks and parts beneath pale buff. 

 Head and neck above red. Belly tinged with red. Female, smaller ; 

 head in front not red. Length, 8-9 inches. 



Description. Bill nearly straight : a keel on each side of the upper mandible, near the 

 summit. Tarsus feathered in front half way down. Claws sharp, curved, laterally grooved. 

 Tail 1 ' 3 longer than the tips of the closed wings. 



Color. Rump and tail-coverts white, barred with black. Both vanes of the middle tail- 

 feathers white, and barred with black on the inner vanes ; the next three black, slightly tipped 

 with white ; the outer tipped or barred with white. Female, ash grey on the anterior part of 

 the summit of the head, and the lower parts less tinged with red. 



Length, 8-5-10-0. 



This beautiful species also comes to us from the South in the spring, and advances as far 

 north as Canada. It is not at present very abundant in this State. Dr. Emmons observed it 

 breeding in Massachusetts ; and although I have not observed it myself, there can be no doubt 

 but that it also breeds in this State. Its incubation and food as in the preceding. It leaves 

 us in the autumn, and is a constant resident from Carolina south. It is thought to have 

 gradually become less abundant in this and the adjacent States. Ranges from Texas to 

 Canada. 



