THE WOODPECKER. 115 



to do much mischief, by destroying the forest timber, 

 he never does the least injury. 



The character of this curious bird will be best illus- 

 trated by Mr. Wilson's account of the conduct of one 

 which he wounded and took alive. 



"The first place I qbserved this bird. at," says he, 

 " when on my journey to the south, was about twelve 

 miles from Wilmington in North Carolina. There I 

 found the bird from which the drawing of the figure 

 in the plate was tpkenv This bird was only wounded 

 slightly in the wing, and on being caught, uttered a 

 loudly reiterated, and most piteous note, exactly re- 

 sembling the violent crying of a young child ; which 

 so terrified my horse, as nearly to have cost me my 

 life. It was distressing to hear it. I carried it with 

 me in my chaise to Wilmington. In passing through 

 the streets, its affecting cries surprised every one with- 

 in hearing, particularly the females, who hurried to the 

 doors and windows with looks of alarm and anxiety. 

 I drove on, and arriving at the piazza >of the hotel, 

 where I intended to put up, the landlord came, and a 

 number of .other persons who happened to be there, 

 all equally alarmed at what they heard. This alarm 

 was greatly increased, by my asking whether he could 

 furnish me with accommodations for myself and baby. 

 The man looked blank, and foolish, while the others 

 stared with great astonishment." 



" After diverting myself for a minute or two at their 

 expense, I drew my Woodpecker from under the cov- 

 er, and a general laugh took place. 1 took him up 

 stairs, and locked him up in my room, while I went to 

 see my horse taken care of. In less than an hour I 





