OF EASTERN PENNSYLVANIA. 145 



served by us from November until the latter part of April. 

 It is mainly an occupant of high-timbered forests, where in 

 the tallest decayed trees it may be seen busily gleaning for 

 insects. Unlike the Downy Woodpecker, it seldom, if ever, 

 visits orchards or waste fields ; and is quite as rarely found 

 upon fences, or near the ground. It is more shy than any 

 of the other Spotted Woodpeckers, which will readily 

 account for the great height at which it feeds. On one oc- 

 casion, we met an individual feeding at not more than twenty 

 feet from the ground, and endeavored by the exercise of the 

 greatest care to approach within a few paces thereof, but it 

 was useless, as the bird, which appeared to be ever on the 

 alert, descried our presence before we had advanced a half 

 dozen paces, and betook itself to a tall tree in the distance, 

 quite out of the reach of danger. 



The general movements of this species differ but slightly, 

 if any, from those previously described. Its flight is in 

 undulations, and more rapid and better sustained, if any- 

 thing, than theirs. 



Its only note which it essays to utter in its flight from tree 

 to tree, and occasionally in the midst of its feeding, is a 

 simple monosyllable, which is pronounced rather quickly, 

 and with a sharp, somewhat guttural intonation. It bears 

 a slight resemblance to the characteristic note of Sphyra- 

 picus var ins. 



The food of this Woodpecker, consists principally of 

 insects. Besides the lame and pupie of coleoptera which it 

 procures with considerable adroitness from the decayed wood, 

 and underneath the trunk of trees, the small spiders and 

 beetles which lurk in the crevices of the bark, constitute 

 a no mean part of its diet. The following beetles have 

 been found in the several stomachs which we have exam- 

 ined : Cratonychus cinereus* C. pertinax, Rhynchcznus 

 sfrobi, Harpalns compar, H. carbonari us, H. pensylva- 

 nlcns, and many others which we were not able to identify. 

 In the spring, vast numbers of Formica sangninca, and 

 1!) 



