102 ORNITHOLOGY AND OOLOGY. 



MELANERPES, SWAINSON. 



Melanerpes, SWAINSON, F. B. A., II. (1831) (type M. erylhrocephalus). 



Bill about equal to the head, broader than high at the base, but becoming com- 

 pressed immediately anterior to the commencement of the gonys; culmen and gonys 

 with a moderately decided angular ridge; both decidedly curved from the very 

 base ; a rather prominent acute ridge commences at the base of the mandible, a little 

 below the ridge of the culmen, and proceeds but a short distance anterior to the nos- 

 trils (about one-third of the way), when it sinks down, and the bill is then smooth ; 

 the lateral outlines are gently concave from the basal two-thirds, then gently convex 

 to the tip, which does not exhibit any abrupt bevelling; nostrils open, broadly oval, 

 not concealed by the feathers, nor entirely basal ; the outer pair of toes equal ; wings 

 long, broad; third and fourth quills longest; tail feathers broad. 



The species all have the back black, without any spots or streaks anywhere. 



MELANERPES ERYTHROCEPHALUS. Swainson. 

 The Red-headed Woodpecker. 



Picas erythrocephalus, Linnaeus. Syst. Nat., I. (1766) 174. Wilson, Am. Orn., 

 I. (1810) 142. Aud. Orn. Biog., I. (1832). 



DESCRIPTION. 



Head and neck all round crimson-red, margined by a narrow crescent of black 

 on the upper part of the breast; back, primary quills, and tail, bluish-black; under 

 parts generally, a broad band across the middle of the wing, and the rump white ; 

 iris hazel; bill and feet bluish-black. The female is not different. 



Length about nine and three-quarters inches; wing, five and a half. 



This handsome Woodpecker is a not very common summer 

 inhabitant of New England. It makes its appearance from 

 the South about the 10th of May. Its habits are similar to 

 those of the other species ; and I recollect nothing of any 

 importance that is peculiar to them except, perhaps, that 

 these birds seem to be much fonder of the small fruits than 

 either of the others. Wilson says of this fact : 



" 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 observing those trees on or near which the 

 Red-headed Woodpecker is skulking : for he is so excellent a con- 

 noisseur 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 



