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88 ORNITHOLOGY AND OOLOGY. 
a bluish horn-color, grooved, wedged at the end, straight, and about an inch and a 
quarter long; touches of black, proceeding from the lower mandible, end in a broad 
black strip that joins the black on the shoulder; back black, divided by a broad, 
lateral strip of white, the feathers composing which are loose and unwebbed, resem- 
bling hairs, — whence its name; rump and shoulders of the wing black; wings black, 
tipped and spotted with white, three rows of spots being visible on the secondaries 
and five on the primaries; greater wing coverts also spotted with white; tail, as in 
the others, cuneiform, consisting of ten strong-shafted and pointed feathers, the four 
middle ones black, the next partially white, the two exterior ones white, tinged at 
the tip with a brownish burnt-color; tail coverts black; whole lower side pure-white; 
legs, feet, and claws light-blue, the latter remarkably large and strong; inside of the 
mouth flesh-colored; tongue pointed, beset with barbs, and capable of being pro- 
truded more than an inch and a half; the os hyoides, in this species, passes on each 
side of the neck, ascends the skull, passes down towards the nostril, and is wound 
round the bone of the right eye, which projects considerably more than the left for 
its accommodation. The great mass of hairs that cover the nostril appears to be 
designed as a protection to the front of the head, when the bird is engaged in digging 
holes into the wood. The membrane which encloses the brain in this, as in all the 
other species of woodpeckers, is also of extraordinary strength; no doubt, to prevent 
any bad effects from violent concussion while the bird is employed in digging for 
food. The female wants the red on the hind head, and the white below is tinged 
with brownish.’’ — WILson. 
HE above description, as given by Wilson, is very full 
and complete. This Woodpecker is a rather common 
visitor in New England, in the spring, fall, and winter 
months, and is, to 
some extent, a resi- 
dent through the year. 
Probably the greater 
number retire to the 
North in the breeding 
season ; and those that 
remain in the south- 
ern districts of these 
States most usually seek the woods for their summer 
homes, and are, as a general thing, seldom met with 
in the thickly settled districts. The flight 1s a waver- 
ing, undulating one, like that of all the woodpeckers ; 
consisting of a series of short vibrations of the wings, 
followed by a downward, soaring movement, which is suc- 
ceeded by another similar series. On alighting, the bird 
Skull and tongue of Woodpecker. 
