BIRDS OF MINNESOTA. 227 



its unsocial habits, which mostly isolate it from the habitations 

 of man, but upon its near relative, the Downy Woodpeclcer, 

 which clings to the vicinity of our dwellings when they are 

 surrounded with shrubbery and trees. 



SPECIFIC CHARACTERS. 



Head, back of neck, sides of back, wings, and central tail 

 feathers black; stripe above and below the eye, the lower ex- 

 tending up the side of the neck; stripe down the middle of back, 

 side-feathers of tail, under parts and round spots in rows across 

 the wings, white; the male having two bright red spots in the 

 white stripes on the back of the head. 



Length, 9; wings, 5; tail, 3.50; bill, 1.12; foot, 1.65. 



Habitat. Middle portion of eastern portion of United States, 

 from the Atlantic to the Great Plains. 



DRYOBATES PUBESCENS (L.). (394.) 

 DOWNY WOODPECKER. 



This seems to be but a small edition of the other Dryobates 

 until we study his habits and characteristics somewhat atten- 

 tively, when we find he is a better carpenter, cutting his hole 

 into harder wood, leaving the entrance much more artistically 

 finished, and in giving the first few inches of its descent into 

 the tree, an inclination before it takes a perpendicular course 

 for the remaining foot. The excavation is made abundantly 

 capacious for the nest, and left as smoothly surfaced as if a 

 carpenter of a higher genus had performed the work. And 

 instead of dumping the chips at the entrance, he distributes 

 them at sufficient distance from the tree to prevent any signs 

 of house building for enemies to avail themselves of. In addi- 

 tion to these distinguishing traits, these birds are content to 

 remain about the districts of their habitual dwelling places for 

 nidification, and rearing their young. It is almost unparalleled 

 amongst its own family for its strength, energy, diligence, per- 

 severance, and absence of fear. The earliest I have succeeded 

 in securing eggs has been about the 25th of May, but I believe 

 it occasionally deposits them earlier. Late in fall, in winter, 

 and in early spring, this species is much associated with the 

 Titmice and Nuthatches in their rambles for food, both of 

 which it usually leads in the hunt. In severe winter weather 

 the whole group keep to the evergreen swamps very closely 

 until it relaxes, when they make up time in the deciduous for- 

 ests. On the whole, it is not quite as numerous as its near rela- 

 tive, but far more social. 



