TWELVE WINTER BIEDS. 257 



while in the female the crown is ash colored, with the 

 forehead and nape of the neck scarlet. The whole 

 under part of the body is a grayish ash with a tinge 

 of red on the belly. 



The /ebra bird is the hermit among our woodpeck- 

 ers. He scorns the companionship of other members 



m ' 



Fig. 72 Red-bellied Woodpecker. 



of his family and delights to be alone or in the com- 

 pany of his mate only. During the winter and early 

 spring he may be found along the borders of wood- 

 lands, where in the tops of the tallest trees he indus- 

 triously seeks his food. At intervals he pauses in his 

 work, raises his head and looking around, utters a 

 17 



