THE RED-HEADED WOODPECKER. 1-9 



THE "WHITE-BILLED WOODPECKER. 



This species is about the size of a crow. The bill is white, three 

 inches long, and channelled. On the liead is a red pointed crest: the 

 head itself and the body in general are black ; but the lower part of 

 tte back, the rump, and upper tail coverts, are white. From tlie eye 

 a wdiite stripe arises, and passes, on 'each side of the ne<',k, down to 

 the back. 



The White-billed Woodpecker is ^onnd in Carolina, "Virginia, and 

 other parts of North America. 



The Spanisli settlers of South America have given to the "White- 

 billed Woodpecker the name of Car[)enter, from the noise that it 

 makes with its bill against the trees in the woods. This is heard at 

 a great distance; and when several of these birds are at work toge- 

 ther, the sound is not much unlike that proceeding from woodmen or 

 carpenters. This AV'^oodpecker rattles its 1 ill against the sides of the 

 orifice, till even the woods resound. A bushel of chips, a proof of its 

 labors, is often to be found at the foot of the tree. On examination 

 its holes have been generally found of a winding form, the better to 

 protect the nest from the eft'ects of the weather. 



The Canadian Indians make a kind of coronet with the bills of 

 these birds, by setting them in a wreath with the points outward; 

 and for this purpose they will purchase them at the rate of two or 

 three buckskins per bill. 



THE RED-HEADED WOODPECKER. 



This species is about nine inches long. The bill is about an inch 

 and a quarter in length, of a lead color with a black tip. The head 

 and neck are of a most beautiful crimson ; the back and wings are. 

 black, the rump, breast, and belly, white; the first ten quills are 

 black, the eleventh black and white, and the rest white wiili black 

 iliafts. It inhabits Carolina, Canada, and most other j^arts of North 

 America; migrating southwards, according to the severity of the 

 weather. 



In various parts of America these Woodpeckers are extremely 

 common: and few animals can be more destructive than they are, in 

 maize-fields and orchards. They attack the trees in flocks, and eat 

 so much of the fruit that nothing but the skin is left. In some yeara 

 they are much more numerous than in others. A premium of four 

 cents per head was formerly paid from the public funds of some of 

 the States, in order, if possible, to extirpate the breed : but this has 

 of late been much ne2:lected. 



They remain during the whole year in Virginia and Carolina, but 

 are not seen in such numbers in winter as during summer. In the 

 winter they are very tame; and they are frequently known to oome 

 into the houses, in the same manner as the Redbreast d<>e8 in Eng- 

 land. 



