562 ZVGODACTYLI. 



the Northwest Coast of the continent, as well as round 

 Nootka Sound, and in the interior of Canada, near to 

 the remote lake of Winnipique, From the great numbers 

 seen in the Southern States in winter, it is evident that 

 the principal part of the species migrate thither from the 

 North and West to pass the inclement season, which nat- 

 urally deprives them of the means of acquiring their 

 usual sustenance. At this time also they feed much on 

 winter berries, such as those of the sumach, smilax, and 

 misseltoe. In the Middle States, some of these birds 

 find the means of support through the most inclement 

 months of the winter. In New England, they reappear 

 about the beginning of April, soon after which they com- 

 mence to pair and build ; for this purpose they often 

 make choice of the trunk of a decayed apple tree, at 

 different heights from the ground. When an accidental 

 cavity is not conveniently found, confident in the formid- 

 able means provided them by nature, with no other aid 

 than the bill, they have been known to make a winding bur- 

 row through a solid oak for 15 inches in length. At this 

 labor, for the greater security and privacy, they continue 

 till late in the evening, and may be heard dealing blows 

 as loud and successive as if aided by the tools of the car- 

 penter. The eggs, about 6, and pure white, are deposit- 

 ed merely upon the fragments of wood which line the 

 natural or artificial cavity thus forming the nest. This 

 cell, before the young are fledged, has a rank and disa- 

 greeable smell ; and on inserting the hand into it, the 

 brood unite in producing a hissing, like so many hidden 

 snakes. They soon escape from this feted den in which 

 they are hatched ; and, climbing into the higher branch- 

 es of the tree, are there fed until able to fly. In the 

 month of March, in Florida and Alabama, I observed 

 them already pairing, on which occasion many petulant 



