THE RED-HEADED WOODPECKER. 139 
ness for fruit and green corn has given them a repu- 
tation anything but enviable. The finest and ripest 
of the fruit are generally selected to gratify their 
desires ; and so keen is their relish for the early pro- 
ductions of the orchard, that a well-loaded cherry- 
tree will sometimes be entirely stripped of its cher- 
ries before the owner has fairly tasted them. The 
pear and the apple-tree are equally the objects of 
their regard ; and should one be molested during his 
depredations upon these, he will coolly thrust his bill 
into as fine an apple or pear as he can, and bear it 
away in his flight to the woods. Much of the mis- 
chief which is done to the young corn, which is at- 
tributed to the Blackbirds, is undoubtedly the work 
of this Woodpecker, as he will strip off the husk 
from the ear almost in a twinkling, and regale himself 
at leisure with its juicy contents. These depreda- 
tions are, however, more the exception than the rule; 
his natural food is insects, and the amount of these 
which he annually destroys, will more than compen- 
sate for the fruit and corn with which he varies his 
diet. We would, therefore, recommend him to the 
protection of every one. He is a bright, sprightly, 
and attractive companion during our country strolls, 
and cannot fail to afford us pleasure wherever we 
meet him. 
The Golden-winged Woodpecker, or Flicker, as 
he is commonly called, although not so conspicuous 
for his beauty as the preceding, is nevertheless a 
handsome and showy bird.- The upper parts of the 
plumage are dull bluish-grey upon the head. shading 
