90 ORNITHOLOGY AND OOLOGY. 
head, the lower not running into the forehead; beneath white; wing much spotted 
with white; the larger coverts with two series each; tertiaries or inner secondaries 
all banded with white; two outer tail feathers white, with two bands of black at the 
end, third white at tip and externally. Male, with red terminating the white feathers 
on the nape; legs and feet bluish-green; claws light-blue tipped with black; iris 
dark-hazel. 
Length, about six and a quarter inches; wing, three and three-quarters. 
This little Woodpecker — the smallest we have—is abun- 
dantly distributed throughout New England, and is a resi- 
dent throughout the year. The exceedingly interesting 
description of its habits, by Wilson, is so full that I will give 
it entire. He says: — 
“ About the middle of May, the male and female look out for a 
suitable place for the reception of their eggs and young. An apple, 
pear, or cherry tree — often in the near neighborhood of the farm- 
house —is generally fixed upon for this purpose. The tree is mi- 
nutely reconnoitred for several days previous to the operation; and 
the work is first begun by the male, who cuts out a hole in the solid 
wood as circular as if described with a pair of compasses. He is 
occasionally relieved by the female, both parties working with the 
most indefatigable diligence. The direction of the hole, if made in 
the body of the tree, is generally downwards, by an angle of thirty 
or forty degrees, for the distance of six or eight inches, and then 
straight down for ten or twelve more: within, roomy, capacious, 
and as smooth as if polished by the cabinet-maker; but the entrance 
is judiciously left just so large as to admit the bodies of the owners. 
During this labor, they regularly carry out the chips, often strewing 
them at a distance, to prevent suspicion. ‘This operation sometimes 
occupies the chief part of a week. Before she begins to lay, the 
female often visits the place, passes out and in, examines every 
part—both of the exterior and interior—with great attention 
(as every prudent tenant of a new house ought to do), and at 
length takes complete possession. “The eggs are generally six, — 
pure-white, and laid on the smooth bottom of the cavity. The 
male occasionally supplies the female with food while she is sitting ; 
and, about the last week in June, the young are perceived making 
their way up the tree, climbing with considerable dexterity. All 
this goes on with great regularity where no interruption is met 
