FLICKER, OR GOLDEN-WINGED WOODPECKER. 



563 



quarrels daily ensued, from a host of rival suitors, accom- 

 companied by their ordinary cackling and squealing. One 

 of their usual complaisant recognitions, often delivered 

 on a fine morning, from the summit of some lofty dead 

 limb, is 'loit a 'loit \oit 'wit huit 'wit 'wit weet, and woit 

 a woit, woit woit looit ivoit, commencing loud, and slow- 

 ly rising and quickening till the tones run together into 

 a noise almost like that of a watchman's rattle. They 

 have also a sort of complaining call, from which they 

 have probably derived their name of pee uf, pee lit ; and 

 at times a plaintive quedh quecili. Occasionally they 

 also utter in a squealing tone, when surprised, or engag- 

 ed in amusing rivalry with their fellows, ivee-cogh wee- 

 cbgli wee-cogh, or iveecup loeccup. 



The food of this species varies with the season ; they 

 are at all times exceedingly fond of woodlice, ants, and 

 their larvee ; and as the fruits become mature, they also 

 add to their ample fare, common cherries, bird cherries, 

 winter grapes, gum berries, those of the red-cedar, as 

 well as of the sumach, smilax,*and other kinds. As the 

 maize too ripens, while yet in the milky state, the Flicker 

 pays frequent visits to the field, and the farmer, readily 

 forgetful of his past services, only remembers his present 

 faults, and, closing his career with the gun, unthinkingly 

 does to himself and the public an essential injury, in 

 saving a few unimportant ears of corn. In this part of 

 New England they are known by the name of Pigeon 

 Woodpeckers from their general bulk and appearance ; 

 and, to the disgrace of our paltry fowlers, they are, in the 

 autumn, but too frequently seen exposed for sale in the 

 markets, though their flesh is neither fat nor delicate. 

 It is exceedingly to be regretted that ignorance and wan- 



* Particularly those of S, laurifolia. 



