' 



36 HAIRY WOODPECKEK. 



hop about, and dig into the crevices of the ti ee. They inhabit 

 the continent, from Hudson's Bay to Carolina and Georgia. 



The Hairy Woodpecker is nine inches long, and fifteen in 

 extent; crown black; line over and under the eye white; the eye 

 is placed in a black line, that widens as it descends to the back; 

 hind-head scarlet, sometimes intermixed with black; nostrils 

 hid under remarkably thick, bushy, recumbent hairs or bristles; 

 under the bill are certain long hairs thrown forward, and up- 

 wards, as represented in the figure; bill a bluish horn colour, 

 grooved, wedged at the end, straight, and about an inch and a 

 quarter long; touches of black, proceeding from the lower man- 

 dible, end in a broad black stripe, that joins the black on the 

 shoulder; back black, divided by a broad lateral strip of white, 

 the feathers composing which, are loose and unwebbed, resem- 

 bling hairs, whence its name; rump and shoulders of the wing, 

 black; wings black, tipped and spotted with white, three rows 

 of spots being visible on the secondaries, and five on the pri- 

 maries; greater wing-coverts also spotted with white; tail as in 

 the others, cuneiform, consisting of ten strong-shafted and point- 

 ed feathers, the four middle ones black, the next partially white, 

 the two exterior ones white, tinged at the tip with a brownish 

 burnt colour; tail-coverts black; whole lower side pure white; 

 legs, feet and claws, light blue, the latter remarkably large and 

 strong; inside of the mouth flesh coloured; tongue pointed, beset 

 with barbs, and capable of being protruded more than an inch 

 and a half; the os hyoides, in this species, pass on each side of 

 the neck, ascend the scull, pass down toward the nostril, and 

 are wound round the bone of the right eye, which projects con- 

 siderably more than the left for its accommodation. The great 

 mass of hairs, that cover the nostril, appears to be designed as 

 a protection to the front of the head, when the bird is engaged 

 in digging holes into the wood. The membrane, which encloses 

 the brain, in this, as in all the other species of Woodpeckers, 

 is also of extraordinary strength, no doubt to prevent any bad 

 effects from violent concussion, while the bird is employed in 

 digging for food. The female wants the red on the hind-head; 



