NORTHERN OCEAN 375 



I know of only one sort of Wood-pecker that frequents Wood-pecker. 

 the remote Northern parts of Hudson's Bay ; and this is 

 distinguished by Mr. Pennant by the name of the Golden 

 Winged Bird ; ^ but to the South West that beautiful species 

 of Wood-pecker with a scarlet crown is very frequent.^ The 

 manner of life of this species is nearly alike, always building 

 their nests in holes in trees, and feeding on worms and insects. 

 They generally have from four to six young at a time. They 

 are said to be very destructive to fruit-trees that are raised in 

 gardens in the more Southern parts of America ; but the want 

 of those luxuries in Hudson's Bay renders them very harmless 

 and inoffensive birds. The red feathers of the larger sort, 

 which- frequent the interior and Southern parts of the Bay, 

 are much valued by some of the Indians, who ornament their 

 pipe-stems with them, and at times use them as ornaments 

 to their children's clothing. Neither of the two species here 

 mentioned ever migrate,^ but are constant inhabitants of the 

 different climates in which they are found. 



There are several species of Grouse in the different parts Grouse. 

 of Hudson's Bay ; but two of the largest, and one of them 

 the most beautiful, never reach so far North [407] as the 

 latitude 59°: but as I have seen them in great plenty near 

 Cumberland House, I shall take the liberty to describe them. 



The Ruffed Grouse.* This is the most beautiful of all The Ruffed 

 that are classed under that name. They are of a delicate 

 brown, prettily variegated with black and white : tail large 

 and long, like that of a hawk, which is usually of an orange- 



[^ Besides the " Golden-winged Bird," Colaptes auratus luteus Bangs, 

 which reaches the limit of trees, several other woodpeckers inhabit that 

 region.] 



[2 Referring to the pileated woodpecker, Phlaeotomus pileatus abieticola 

 (Bangs), which is found about the southern parts of Hudson Bay, and inland 

 toward the south-west.] 



[' Hearne is mistaken here, as the golden-winged woodpecker is well known 

 to leave the northern parts of its summer habitat for several months.] 



[* Bonasa mnbellus togata (Linn.). Found about the southern shores of 

 Hudson Bay, as far north as about 57°, and inland much farther north.] 



