A RED-THROATED RED-HEAD. 133 



white, the Wack predominating on the wings and 

 tail, and the wliite on the neck, back and rump. 

 Two white strips, one above and the other be- 

 low the eye, extend along the side of the head, 

 while a black band stretches back through the eye 

 and down the sides of the neck. Much of the 

 white of the upper parts is tinged with yellow. 



It will be seen from the foregoing description 

 that this bird makes quite a variegated toilet, -and 

 I must say that he presents a handsome appear- 

 ance as he clings to the bole of a tree, or hurls 

 himself through the woods with outspread wings 

 and tail, his mottled plumage flashing gayly in 

 the sun. To me he has been a source of infinite 

 delight. 



He evidently has some sense of humor. Of 

 course he is a great deal like a child in his choice 

 of amusements, but his very artlessness gives his 

 behavior an especial charm. Besides, I have been 

 as much of a boy as he. How often have I played 

 " peek-a-boo " with him in the woods ! He will 

 fly to a tree-trunk near the place where I am 

 standing, and when he is sure that I have seen 

 him, he flits to the other side of his curved 

 aj-boreal wall, where he remains for a while, bend- 

 ing his head at intervals beyond the margin of his 



