THE GREEN WOODPECKER. 415 



bark or digs his way into the trunk, for the sound and healthy tree is the least object of his 

 attention. The diseased, hastening to putrefaction, infested with insects, are his favorites. 

 Ignorance and prejudice stubbornly persist in directing their indignation against the bird now 

 before us, the constant and mortal enemy of those very vermin." 



This bird is seldom seen above Virginia— its principal Jiabltat being in the Grulf States. 

 It is not migratorj'-. 



In the South it is called Logcock, and the Pileated Woodpecker is confounded with, or 

 they are called respectively. Greater and Lesser Logcnick. 



Dr. Brewer says: " When wounded this bird immediately makes for the nearest tree 

 and ascends it with great rapidity, until it reaches the top branches, when it squats and hides, 

 generally witli great effect. Whilst ascending it moves spirally around the tree, utters its 

 loud 7^«77, ^(ZiY, at almost every hop, but becomes silent the moment it reaches a place where 

 it conceives itself secure. They sometimes cling to the bark with their claws so tirmly as to 

 remain cramped to the spot several hours after death. They strike with great violence, and 

 inflict severe wounds with both bill and claw." 



The Pileated Woodpecker {Hylotomus pileatus) is nearly as large as the Ivory -billed. 

 He is the ''great northern chief of his tribe," though his range extends from Canada to the 

 Gulf of Mexico. In the high timber lands of Northern New York he is abundant. In Penn- 

 sylvania he is called the Black Woodcock ; in the Southern States the Logcoek. 



Like the preceding species, he is eminently serviceable in removing noxious insects from 

 the forest trees. He is not migratory, but braves the extremes of the colder regions and the 

 tropics. It is rare to see more than two or three together. 



The general color of liis plumage is a dusky brownish-black ; the head is ornamented with 

 a conical cap of scarlet, and the scarlet moustaches proceed from the sides of the lower man- 

 dible. The eye is a bright golden color. 



The Banded Three-toed Woodpecker {Plcokles trhlactiiliifi) is an extremely rare bird 

 in the' United States, and little is known of its habits. Its range is through the Arctic regions 

 of America, and southwards in winter as far as Massachusetts. Mr. Welch, of Lynn, Massa- 

 chusetts, took some specimens in the latter place. This is the most southern limit known for 

 the sjDecies. 



A variety is known as rather common in the Rocky Mountains. 



The commonest of the Woodpeckers is that which is generally known by the name of the 

 Green Woodpecker. It has, however, many popular titles, such as Rain-bird, Wood-spite, 

 Hew-hole, and Wood- wall. This bird is a representative of the Gecinfe, or Green Woodpeckers. 



Although the Green Woodpecker is a haunter of woods and forests, it will sometimes 

 leave those favored localities, and visit the neighborhood of man. The grounds near liouses 

 are rather favorite resorts of this pretty bird, and I once performed something of a cruel feat 

 by flinging a brickbat at a Green Woodpecker, without the least idea of hitting it, and crush- 

 ing its legs with the edge of tlie brick. I do not think I ever threw a stone at a bird after- 

 wards, and though the event happened some years ago, I have never forgiven myself for it. 



The name of Rain-bird has been given to this species because it becomes very vociferous 

 at the approach of wet weather, and is, as Mr. Yarrell well observes, "a living barometer to 

 good observers." Most birds, however, will answer the same puipose to those who know how 

 and where to look for them. The other titles are equally appropriate. Wood-spite being 

 clearly a corruption of the German term "specht." Hew-hole speaks for itself; and Wood- 

 wall is an ancient name for the liird, occurring in the old English poets. 



Tills species, although mostly found on trees, is a frequent visitor to the ground, where it 

 finds an abundance of food. Ants' nests are said to form a great attraction to the Green 

 Woodpecker, which feasts merrily at the expense of the insect community. During the 

 autumn, it also lives on vegetable food, being especially fond of nuts, which it can crack with- 

 out any difficulty by repeated strokes from its bill. The nest of this Woodpecker is, like that 



