PILEATED WOODPECKER. 445 



Hutchins met with him in the interior of Hudson Bay, near 

 Albany River, in the month of January. It is, however, suf- 

 ficiently singular, and shows perhaps the wild timidity of this 

 northern chief of his tribe, that though an inhabitant towards 

 the :-vage and desolate sources of the Mississippi, he is un- 

 known at this time in all the maritime parts of the populous 

 and long-settled State of Massachusetts. In the western parts 

 of the State of New York he is sufficiently common in the 

 uncleared forests, which have been the perpetual residence of 

 his remotest ancestry. From the tall trees which cast their 

 giant arms over all the uncleared river lands, may often be 

 heard his loud, echoing, and incessant cackle as he flies 

 restlessly from tree to tree, presaging the approach of rainy 

 weather. These notes resemble ekerek fek rek rek rek rek rek 

 uttered in a loud cadence which gradually rises and falls. The 

 marks of his industry are also abundantly visible on the decay- 

 ing trees, which he probes and chisels with great dexterity, 

 stripping off wide flakes of loosened bark to come at the bur- 

 rowing insects which chiefly compose his food. In whatever 

 engaged, haste and wildness seem to govern all his motions, 

 and by dodging and flying from place to place as soon as 

 observed, he continues to escape every appearance of danger. 

 Even in the event of a fatal wound he still struggles with uncon- 

 querable resolution to maintain his grasp on the trunk to which 

 he trusts for safety to the very instant of death. When caught 

 by a disabling wound, he still holds his ground against a tree, 

 and strikes with bitterness the suspicious hand which attempts 

 to grasp him, and, resolute for his native liberty, rarely submits 

 to live in confinement. Without much foundation, he is charged 

 at times with tasting maize. I have observed one occasionally 

 making a hearty repast on holly and smilax berries. 



This species is being driven back by "civilization," and is now 

 found only in the deeper forests. Mr. William Brewster reports 

 that a few pairs still linger in the northern part of Worcester 

 County, Mass. 



