WOODPECKERS. 49 



pursuing and gambolling with them round the larger 

 limbs and body of the tree for hours together ; for 

 such are really his habits. Can it be said that * ne- 

 cessity never grants an interval of sound repose' to 

 that bird, who, while other tribes are exposed to all 

 the peltings of the midnight storm, lodges dry and 

 secure in a snug chamber of his own constructing ; 

 or that ' the narrow circumference of a tree circum- 

 scribes his dull round of life,' who, as seasons and 

 inclination inspire, roams from the frigid to the tor- 

 rid zone, feasting on the abundance of various re- 

 gions '\ Or is it a proof that ' his appetite is never 

 softened by delicacy of taste,' because he so often 

 varies his bill of fare, occasionally preferring to an- 

 imal food the rich milkiness of young Indian corn, 

 and the wholesome and nourishing berries of the 

 wild cherry, sour gum, and red cedar? Let the 

 reader turn to the faithful representation of him giv- 

 en in our figure, and say whether his looks be ' sad 

 and melancholy V It is truly ridiculous and aston- 

 ishing that such absurdities should escape the lips or 

 pen of one so able to do justice to the respective 

 merits of every species; but Buffon had too often a 

 favourite theory to prop up, that led him insensibly 

 astray : and so, forsooth, the whole family of wood- 

 peckers must look sad, sour, and be miserable, to 

 satisfy the caprice of a whimsical philosopher, who 

 takes it into his head that they are, and ought to 

 be so." 



Not contented with the defence of his gold- wing- 

 ed woodpecker, Wilson returns with renewed spirit 

 to the vindication of the det^gns of Providence when 

 he comes to the history of a much smaller bird of 

 the same species, the downy woodpecker (Picuspu- 

 bescens). " The principal characteristics," he says, 

 " of this little bird, are diligence, familiarity, perse- 

 verance, and a strength and energy in the head and 

 muscles of the neck which are truly astonishing. 

 Mounted on the infected branch of an old apple-tree, 

 where insects have lodged their corroding and de- 

 E 



