156 BED-HEADED WOODPECKERS. 



great amount of cunning; while their plumage is 

 most attractive, being of a bright white and black, 

 with the hackle-feathers of the crown of the deepest 

 scarlet colour. Hammer ! hammer ! hammer ! went 

 this pair of worthies, who every few moments quitted 

 their perch to rush round to the reverse side of 

 the limb, to secure such of their prey as had there 

 made their egress with a view to escape. So strong 

 are the blows these birds strike with their bills, 

 that, on a calm day, they can be heard for almost 

 a mile. Their exertions are so violent, that one 

 is struck with surprise that they do not dislocate 

 their necks with the power of the blows they 

 strike. 



Woodpeckers of many species are common 

 throughout this country, but none are so numerous 

 as those of which I speak. Every dead limb and 

 decayed piece of timber tell of their industry, for 

 their surfaces are found penetrated with holes in all 

 directions, almost similar to those made with a 

 gimlet. The amount of service these birds do in 

 destroying insects is incalculable ; and there is little 

 doubt that they might be most advantageously 

 introduced into England. There is an erroneous 

 impression, however, common throughout the United 

 States, that woodpeckers destroy timber ; but, 

 after a great deal of close observation, I never 

 was able to discover a single instance of their boring 

 into any trees which were not dead and partially 

 decayed. 



