OF EASTERN PENNSYLVANIA. 141) 



The flight of this species is seldom high, and is performed 

 In short, rapid undulations. Its general movements bear a 

 close resemblance to those of auratiis. Like the latter, it 

 not only punctures the bark of trees, but seemingly evinces a 

 greater predilection for a decayed branch than its cousin : 

 it will frequently remain for minutes, unless disturbed, 

 perforating the rotten wood for the lame that lay concealed 

 within. Its motions along the trunk and limbs, performed 

 in a somewhat spiral manner ; its sudden tappings, invari- 

 ably followed by an attitude of intense listening, the head 

 being rotated from side to side ; its inverted suspensory po- 

 sition from a tree-branch ; and the perfect ease with which 

 it descends the trunk, head foremost, are all eminently 

 characteristic of the Flickers, and closely ally it to the latter. 

 But its movements are obviously marked by greater agility 

 and skilfulness. 



Its call-note is a simple monosyllable, which is pro- 

 duced with a sharp, guttural intonation. It is generally 

 heard when the bird has been disturbed whilst feeding, and 

 is expressive of anger ; and, also, in its flight from tree to 

 tree, to escape any fancied danger. During the mating pe- 

 riod, which happens about the second week of May, maybe 

 heard its song, a loud and rapid succession of gutturals, 

 which, even to the cultivated ear, is not lacking in a certain 

 measure of harmony and euphony. Its syllabic language 

 may be represented by //7&7, sharply and loudly uttered with 

 a rising intonation. 



The movements of the sexes when pairing, are most 

 amusing and ludicrous. This is pre-eminently the case, 

 when a pair of males are engaged in wooing a single female : 

 or, when there are pairs of both sexes on the summit of a 

 tall oak. We have watched these curious movements and 

 antics for hours together. The attention of the female is 

 not attracted to the whereabouts of the male by the peculiar 

 drumming which both Picus and Sphyrapicus are known 

 to emit, but, by a loud shrill monosyllabic note, which differs 



