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PICUS CAROLINUS— LINN. 



RED-BELLIED WOODPECKER. 



Red-bellied Woodpecker, Picus Carolinus, Wils. Amer. Orn. 



Picus Carolinus, Bonap. Syn. 



Red-bellied Woodpecker, Nutt. Man. 



Red-bellied Woodpecker, Picus Carolinus, Aud. Orn. Biog. 



Specific Character — Bill, along the gap, one inch and five-six- 

 teenths ; tail three quarters of an inch ; length of tarsi three inches 

 and a half; upper parts transversely barred with white and black ; 

 abdomen red. Adult male with the upper part of the head and 

 hind neck bright carmine ; sides of the head, sides and fore part 

 of the neck and the lower parts, dull grayish-white, tinged with 

 dull yellow ; abdomen red ; breast faintly tinged with the same, 

 as are the feathers about the base of the lower mandible ; upper 

 parts transversely banded with black and white ; tail black, the outer 

 feathers with white bands, which color extends along the shafts 

 of the inner webs of the middle pair of feathers about two thirds 

 of their length ; the inner webs white, banded with black. Fe- 

 male, the red wanting on the crown, which is ash-gray ; the red 

 on the hind neck paler, and the abdomen faintly tinged with red. 

 Length ten inches, wing five inches and three-eighths. 



This species, not very abundant with us, seems to prefer passing 

 its time in the lonely part of the woods. I have never seen it on 

 the ground, or among the early fruit trees. In autumn it resorts to 

 the chestnut trees, the produce of which it appears very fond. Abou 

 the first of May the female commences laying ; the eggs are five 

 in number, and are, as usual, pure white. 



