96 TWENTIETH CENTUKY CLASSICS 



retired, solitary and deep-shaded parts of the woods, 

 generally on high ground, where they repose in silence. 

 When disturbed, they rise within a few feet, sail low and 

 slowly through the woods, for thirty or forty yards, and 

 generally settle on a low branch or on the ground. Their 

 sight appears deficient during the day, as, like Owls, they 

 seem then to want that vivacity for which they are distin- 

 guished in the morning and evening twilight. They are 

 rarely shot or molested; and, from being thus transiently 

 seen in the obscurity of dusk or in the deep umbrage of 

 the woods, no wonder their particular markings of plum- 

 age should be so little known, or that they should be con- 

 founded with the Nighthawk, whom in general appear- 

 ance they so much resemble." 



The birds make no nest. Eggs two; laid in a depres- 

 sion on the ground, among the leaves in thickets and 

 heavily-wooded lands. A set collected June 5th, 1871, 

 at Pewaukee, Wisconsin, in the woods, under a thick 

 growth of bushes, measure: 1.09x.80, 1.12x.78; cream 

 white, irregularly spotted and mottled with lavender and 

 pale brown; in form, elliptical. 



XXVII. DOWNY WOODPECKER 



Dry abates pubescens (LiNN.). 



Kesident; common. Begin laying the last of April. 



HABITAT. Northern North America; south in the 

 eastern portion to the Gulf coast. 



Iris dark grown; bill slate blue; legs, feet and claws 

 pale blue. 



These restless, energetic little Woodpeckers are very 



