'622 THK FE.\THEUKD TRIliKS. 



A fcry large proportion of the food of this species is derived from auts and their eggs. 

 Every person who has lived in the country must frequently have seen this gay-coloured 

 woodpecker feeding at some ant-hill. Mr. Yarrell states that he has seldom had an 

 opportunity of examining a recently killed specimen, the beak of which did not indicate, 

 by the earth adhering to the base and to the feathers about the nciirils, that the bird 

 liad been so at \\ork. Bechstein says that, in the winter, it will take bees from the hive, 

 and that in the house it is fed on nuts, ants' eggs, and meat. Of its manners in captivity, 

 the German ornithologist states that the beauty of its plumage is all that can be said of it ; 

 for it is so fierce, quick, and stubborn, that it can only be kept chained. It is curious, 

 he adds, to see it crack nuts. 



THE GOLDEN-WINGED WOODPECKER.* 



" No sooner," saj's Audubon, "has spring called these birds to the pleasant duty of 

 making love, than their voice, which, by the way, is not at all disagreeable to the car of 

 man, is heard from the tops of high decayed trees, 2:)roclainiing with delight the opening of 

 the welcome season. Their note at this peiiod is merriment itself, as it imitates a prolonged 

 and jovial laugh, heard at a considerable distance. Several males pm-sue a female, reach 

 her, and, to j^rove the force and truth of their love, bow their heads, spread their tails, 

 and move sidewaj^s, backwards, and forwards, performing such antics as might induce 

 any one witnessing them, if not of a most morose temper, to join liis laugh to theirs. 

 The female flics to another tree, where she is instantly followed by one, two, or even half 

 a dozen of these gay suitors, and ^'\'here again the same ceremonials are gone through. No 

 fighting occurs, no jealousies exist among these beaux, until a marked preference is shown 

 to some individual, when the rejected proceed in search of another female. In this manner 

 all tlie golden-winged woodpeckers are soon happily mated. Each pair immediately 

 proceed to excavate the trunk of a tree, and finish a hole in it sufficient to contain 

 themselves and their 3'Oiuig. Thej' both work with great industry and apparent 

 pleasui'e. Shoidd the male, for instance, be emploj'cd, tlie female is close to him, and 

 congratulates him on the removal of every chip which his bill sends through the aii-. 

 While he rests, he apjjcars to be speaking to her on the most tender subjects, and when 

 fatigued is at once assisted by her. In this manner, by the alternate exertions of each, 

 the hole is dug and finished. They caress each other on the branches, climb about and 

 around the tree with apparent delight, rattle with their bill against the tops of the dead 

 branches, chase all their cousins the red-heads, defy the jnirjjle-grakles to enter tlieir 

 nest, feed ijlentifully on beetles and larvae, cackling at intervals, and ere two weeks have 

 elapsed the female lays either four or six eggs, the whiteness or transparency of ^^•hich 

 are doubtless the delight of her heart. 



" If to raise a niunerous progeny may contribute to happiness, these woodpeckers may 

 bo happy enough, for they have two broods each season. J'jven in confinement, the 

 golden-winged woodpecker never sutlers his naturally lively si)irit to droop. It feeds 

 well, and by way of amusement will contrive to destroy as much furniture in a day as 

 can well be mended bj' a different kind of Avorkman in two. Therefore, kind reader, do 

 not any longer believe that woodpeckers — I mean those of America — are such stupid, 

 forlorn, dejected, and miprovided-for beings as they have liitherfo been rej^resented." 

 Another bird of the same country is of remarkable interest : it is the largest white-bill 

 woodpecker of Catesby ; and the large log-cock and i\'ory-billed woodpecker of the 

 Anglo-Americans. 



* Culiiptiis Auialus. 



