576 



ZYGODACTYLI. 



DOWNY WOODPECKER. 



(Picus puhescens, L. Wilson, Am. Orn. i. p. 153. pi. 9. fig 4. [male.] 

 Phil. Museum,No. 1986.) 



Sp. Charact. — Varied with black and white ; beneath white ; back 

 with long, slender, loose feathers; outer tail-feathers white, with 

 four Mack sjwts. — Male, with a red occipital band, which in the 

 female is black. 



This species, the smallest of American Woodpeckers, 

 agrees almost exactly with the preceding in its colors 

 and markinojs. It is likewise resident throughout the 

 same countries. About the middle of May also, the pair 

 begin to look out a suitable deposit for their eggs and 

 young. The entrance is in the form of a perfect circle, 

 and only just left large enough for an individual to pass 

 in and out. Both sexes labor for about a week at this 

 task with indefatigable diligence, carrying on the burrow 

 in some orchard tree, in two different directions, to the 

 depth of 16 to 20 inches down ; and to prevent suspicion 

 they carry out the chips, and strew them at a distance. 

 The eggs are about 6, white, and deposited on the smooth 

 bottom of the cavity. The male occasionally feeds his 

 mate, while sitting ; and about the close of June the 

 young are observed abroad, climbing up the tree with 

 considerable address. Sometimes the crafty House Wren, 

 interferes, and, driving the industrious tenants from their 

 hole, usurps the possession. No species can exceed the 

 present in industry and perseverance. While thus regu- 

 larly probing the bark of the tree for insects, it contin- 

 ues so much engaged as to disregard the approaches of 

 the observer, though immediately under the tree. These 

 perforations, made by our Scqi-Suckcrs, as the present 

 and preceding species are sometimes called, are carried 

 round the trunks and branches of the orchard trees in 

 regular circles, so near to each other, th^t according to 



