•330 THE FEATHEREn TRIHES. 



THE LARGER RED-CRESTED MOnnrErivER* 



These birds arc not Tinfrcquent in the well-limbered forests, from Mexico to Canada, 

 at least to the fiftieth degree north. They are resident all the year in the interior of the 

 fur countries ixp to the sixty-second or sixty-third parallels ; rarely appearing near 

 Hudson's Bay, but numerous in the gloomiest recesses of the forests that skirt the Rocky 

 Mountains, in all the United States, particularly in the Gennesee country, in the state of 

 New York. 



Catesbv says, that these birds (besides insects which they get from rotten trees, their 

 usual food) are destructive to "maize" by pecking holes through the husks that enclose 

 the grain, and letting in the wet. Dr. Richardson states, that the stillness of the 

 primeval shades which this woodjjecker frequents is often invaded by the strokes of its 

 powerful bill, which excels the woodman's axe in the loudness of its sound, and still more 

 in the rapidity with which its blows are urged ; " nor does it," he adds, " fall far short in 

 the quantity of chips it produces. Like other woodpeckers, he is extremely indus- 

 trious, seemingly never a moment idle, flying from tree to tree, and plying his head 

 Kke a hammer the instant that he alights." A few strokes of the bill suffice to indicate 

 the state of the tree ; and Dr. Richardson concludes his observations on this species by 

 remarking, that if the bird judges that he would explore the interior in vain, he instantly 

 quits that tree for another. 



From the tall trees which cast their giant arms over all the uncleared river lands may 

 often be heard his loud, echoing, and incessant cackle, as he flies restlessly from tree to 

 tree, presaging the approach of rainy weather. These notes resemble ekerek rck roh rek, 

 rt'k, rck, rck, uttered in a loud cadence, which gradually rises and fiiUs. I'he marks of 

 his industry are also abundantly visible on the decaying trees, which he probes and 

 chisels with great dexterity, chipping off wide flakes of loosened bark, to come at the 

 burrowing insects which chiefly compose his food. In whatever engaged, haste and 

 wildness seem to govern all his motions, and by dodging and flying from place to jjlace 

 as soon as observed, he continues to escape every appearance of daiiger. Even in the 

 event of a fatal wound, he still struggles with unconquerable resolution to maintain his 

 grasp on the trunk, to which he trusts for his safety, to the ^-cry instant of death. 

 When caught by a disabling wound, he still holds his ground against a tree, and strikes 

 with bitterness the suspicious hand which attempts to grasp him, and, resolute for his 

 native liberty, rarely submits to live in confinement. Nuttall states that tliis sjjccies 

 is, without much foundation, charged at times with tasting maize ; but in winter, he 

 observes the bird in South Carolina occasionally making a hearty repast on holly and 

 similar berries. 



The female lays about six snow-white eggs, in the cavity of a tre(\ Two broods arc- 

 said to be produced in a season. 



THE WRYNECK. t 



Wlicn tlie cuckoo is heard, the wrj-neck may be looked ibr ; and from their advent and 

 departure about the same time, some of the modern IJritish names, and one of the 

 ancient British apiirllations, f,'/iri.<t ij ffixj, must have originated, for in otlicr respects 

 there is no relationship or similarity between the birds. 



The general habits of the species are well described by JFr. "S'aiicll, in liis " liritish 

 Birds." He truly remarks, that when found in its rcdcat, in tlio liole of a tree, it makes 

 a loud liissing, sets up it« crest, and writhing its luad and neck towards eacli sliouldcr with 



• Catcsliy. Tlif Pilfnttfl AWiodprcVcr of Pcniinnt, etc 



I i>su|ii]lhi. 



