506 NORTH AMERICAN BIRDS. 



tracts intervening between the junction of the Missouri and Mississippi, and 

 the northern borders of the great lake. He adds that not an individual was 

 found by him or by his sons in jVIaine, where he did, however, obtain in great 

 abundance the variety he called P. canadensis. According to Sir John Rich- 

 ardson it is found as far to the north as the 63d parallel. It remains all the 

 year round in the fur countries, and is the most common species up to the 

 fifty-sixth degree of latitude, north of which it yields in frequency to the 

 three-toed species. Dr. Woodhouse speaks of it as common "in Texas and 

 in the Indian Territory. Although not crossing the Rocky Mountains in 

 the United States, it reaches the Pacific Coast of British Columbia, and is 

 found north as far as Sitka, and perhaps still farther, thvis replacing the var. 

 harrisi. It is a resident, and not a migratory, species, and wherever found 

 it also breeds. Several specimens have been killed in England. 



According to the observations of Wilson, this Woodpecker frequents the 

 orchards and cultivated grounds, and is less wild and more domestic than 

 most of the species. In May, with its mate, it seeks the retirement of the 

 woods to breed, selecting a branch already hollowed, or excavating one for 

 itself. In the former case the nest has been known to be four or five feet 

 from the opening. When it excavates its own opening, it digs horizon- 

 tally six or eight inches into tlie body of the tree, and then downward 

 to about twice that distance, carrying up the chips in the bill or scrap- 

 ing them out with the feet. They not unfrequently breed in oi'chards, 

 and have been even known to excavate their holes in the rails of old 

 fences. The female lays five white eggs, which are usually hatched out 

 early in June. 



Mr. Audubon observed these birds, at all seasons, in almost every possible 

 locality, from the isolated trees of large towns and cities, even to the very 

 midst of the salt marshes about the mouth of the Mississippi. He found 

 the excavation for the nest more frequently running obliquely than perpen- 

 dicularly. In the Southern States they rear two broods in a season, the first 

 appearing the last of May, the second usually about the first of August. In 

 the middle and northern districts they rarely raise more than one. Tliose 

 which Mr. Audubon observed to raise more than one brood in a season made 

 use of the same excavation for both, and not unfrequently within a few yards 

 of a house. The eggs of the first brood he found usually six in number, and 

 of the second four. Where they have but one brood, the number varies from 

 four to six, and in two instances he has found seven. The measure given by 

 him is one inch in length by .69 of an inch in breadth. Tliey are elliptical 

 or almost equally rounded at both ends, smooth, pure white, and translucent. 

 The young remain in the nest until well able to fly. 



Mr. Audubon states that the Hairy Woodpecker becomes, during the win- 

 ter months, a very common bird in all parts of the Southern States, coming 

 to the farm-yards witli the downy species to glean the grains of corn left by 

 the cattle. At this season their visits to the corn-cribs are extremely fre- 



