lewis's woodpecker. 577 



Wilson, eight or ten of them may be coverad by a dollar. 

 The object of this curious piece of industry is not satis- 

 factorily ascertained, but whether it be done to taste the 

 sap of the tree, or to dislodge vermin, it is certain that 

 the plant escapes uninjured, and thrives as well, or bet- 

 ter than those which are imperforated. 



The Downy Woodpecker is about 6| inches in length, and 12 in 

 alar extent. The bill only about | of an inch in length from the 

 gape. The plumage very similar to that of the preceding species. 



RED-COCKADED WOODPECKER. 



{Picus quei-ulus, Wilsoiv, Am. Orn. ii. p. 103. pi. 15. fig. 1. [niale.] 

 Phil. Museum, No. 2027.) 



Sp. Charact. — Varied with black and white ; the back barred with 

 white ; below also white ; with the outer tail-feathers white, spot- 

 ted with black. — Male, with a short vermilion-red line on each 

 side of the head, wanting in the female. 



This species, remarkable for the red stripe on the side 

 of its head, was discovered by Wilson in the pine woods 

 of North Carolina, from whence it probably exists to the 

 coast of the Mexican Gulph. Its voice resembled the 

 chirping of young birds, and had nothing of the sono- 

 rous cry of the other Woodpeckers. 



This species is 7J inches long, and 13 in alar stretch. The back 

 barred with about twelve white, curving lines, and as many of black. 

 Tail-feathers spotted with black, except the^4 middle ones, which are 

 wholly black. The vermilion line on the side of the head seldom 

 occupies more than the edge of a single feather. In the female 

 this mark is wanting. Iris hazel. 



LEWIS'S WOODPECKER. 



(Picvs torquatus, Wilson^, Am. Orn, iii. p. 31. pi. 20. fig. 3. Phil. 

 Museum, No. 2020.) 



Sp. Charact. — Black, glossed with green ; front, chin, and cheeks 

 dark red ; collar round the neck, and breast, silvery-white ; the 

 belly glossy vermilion. 



49 



