316 LAND-BIRDS AND GAME-BIRDS 



these are in Button-wood trees (Platanns occidentalis), and 

 another in the decayed limb of a large elm. The old ones I 

 observe make their excursions regularly to the woods beyond 

 the Sclmylkill, about a mile distant ; preserving great silence 

 and circumspection in visiting their nests ; precautions not 

 much attended to by them in the depth of the woods, because 

 there the prying eye of man is less to be dreaded. Towards 

 the mountains, particularly in the vicinity of creeks and rivers, 

 these birds are extremely abundant, especially in the latter 

 end of summer. Wherever you travel in the interior at that 

 season, you hear them screaming from the adjoining woods, 

 rattling on the dead limbs of trees, or on the fences, where 

 they are perpetually seen flitting from stake to stake on the 

 road side, before you. Wherever there is a tree, or trees, of 

 the wild cherry, covered with ripe fruit, there you see them 

 busy among the branches ; and in passing orchards, you may 

 easily know where to find the earliest, sweetest apples, by ob- 

 serving those trees, on or near which the Red-headed Wood- 

 pecker is skulking ; for he is so excellent a connoisseur in fruit, 

 that wherever an apple or pear is found broached by him, it is 

 sure to be among the ripest and best flavored. When alarmed, 

 he seizes a capital one by striking his open bill deep into it, 

 and bears it off to the woods. When the Indian corn is in its 

 rich, succulent, milky state, he attacks it with great eagerness, 

 opening a passage thro the numerous folds of the husk, and 

 feeding on it with voracity. The girdled, or deadened timber, 

 so common among corn fields in the back settlements, are his 

 favorite retreats, whence he sallies out to make his depreda- 

 tions. He is fond of the ripe berries of the sour gum ; and 

 pays pretty regular visits to the cherry-trees, when loaded with 

 fruit. Towards Fall he often approaches the barn or farm 

 house, and raps on the shingles and weather boards. He is of 

 a gay and frolicsome disposition ; and half a dozen of the fra- 

 ternity are frequently seen diving and vociferating around the 

 high dead limbs of some large tree, pursuing and playing with 

 each other, and amusing the passenger with their gambols. 

 Their note or cry is shrill and lively, and so much resembles 



