BLACK WOODPECKERS. 



^59 



the air and far apart, propelling themselves by flaps of their wings 

 repeated at the end of each successive curve as they rise and sink 

 in their flight. At the dawn of day they alight on the tops of dead 

 trees about plantations, and remain there searching for food until 

 the approach of sunset, when they again, one after another, mount 

 into the air and continue their journey. The nest is formed in the 

 trunk or large branches of a tree. The female deposits six eggs, 

 generally on the bare wood. 



Fig. 134.— The Rusty Mi 



(Meiancrpes rubiginosns). 



Some species, forming the genus Centurus, are found singly on 

 the decayed trees of the forests, and occasionally in orchards or 

 open fields. They are all expert climbers, and may be seen run- 

 ning over the trunks and horizontal branches of the trees they 

 frequent with equal facility in all directions, searching for larva; 

 and insects. Their note is choiul rapidly repeated, so as to remind 

 the listener of the barking of a little lap-dog. They make their 

 nests in decayed or sound trunks of trees, and the female lays five 

 eggs. The young generally climb to the upper branches of their 



17—2 



