22 DIVISION I. VERTEBRAL ANIMALS.—CLASS II. AVES, 
few rods off. We crept up near the sound, hoping to get a shot at a bear, 
when we discovered this bird, which looked very much like a black hen, 
busily at work. He was searching for the borers and large black ants that hide 
beneath the bark; and so earnestly was he employed, that he permitted us 
to approach very near him. He would force his powerful bill, by repeated 
strokes, into the bark, in holes in a direct line with the grain, until he had 
marked out a patch, perhaps six or eight inches square, and then, striking 
into it diagonally, tear it off, thus exposing the living vermin beneath, which 
he lost no time in securing. After clearing that spot, he moved to another, 
and repeated the same operation, until, by a sudden movement, we startled 
him, when he flew off, uttering a rattling cackle similar to that of a gar- 
rulous hen. Tis flight was similar to that of the other Woodpeckers 
described in another place in this volume. In addition to insects, this 
Woodpecker eats acorns, beech-nuts, berries, and Indian corn, but is not 
at all troublesome to farmers; and the little that it pilfers is much more 
than repaid by the immense numbers of injurious larve that it destroys. 
The Downy Woodpecker is also well known. 
This little Woodpecker —the smallest we have —is abundantly distrib- 
uted throughout the Eastern United States, and is a resident throughout the 
year. The exceedingly interesting description of its habits, by Wilson, is 
so full that we will give it entire. He says, — 
“About the middle of May the male and female look out for a suitable 
place for the reception of their eggs and young. An apple, pear, or cherry 
tree — often in the near neighborhood of the farm-house — is generally fixed 
upon for this purpose. The tree is minutely reconnoitred for several days 
previous to the operation; and the work is first begun by the male, who 
cuts out a hole in the solid wood as circular as if described with a pair of 
compasses. He is occasionally relieved by the female, both parties working 
with the most indefatigable diligence. The direction of the hole, if made 
in the body of the tree, is generally downwards, by an angle of thirty or 
forty degrees, for the distance of six or eight inches, then straight down for 
ten or twelve more: within, roomy, capacious, and as smooth as if’ polished 
by the cabinet-maker; but the entrance is judiciously left just so large as 
to admit the bodies of the owners. During this labor, they regularly carry 
out the chips, often strewing them at a distance, to prevent suspicion. This 
operation sometimes oceupies the chief part of a week. Before she begins 
to lay, the female often visits the place, passes out and in, examines every 
part —both of the exterior and interior —with great attention (as every 
prudent tenant of a new house ought to do), and at length takes complete 
possession, The eges are generally six,— pure white, and laid on the 
smooth bottom of the cavity. The male occasionally supplies the female 
