THE RED-BELLIED WOODPECKER. 



417 



Dr. Brewer says : ' ' This bird was met with in the overland expedition in flocks, on the 

 banks of the Saskatchewan, in May. Its manners at the period of the year were strikingly 

 contrasted with those of the resident Woodpeckers, for instead of flitting in a solitary way 

 fioni tree to tree, and assiduonsly boring for insects, it flew about in crowded flocks in a rest- 

 less manner, and kept up a continual chattering." 



The Hairy Woodpecker {Picus villosus) is another of our resident birds, and is also an 

 orchard visitor. In May he retires to breed, and is not seen until the autumn months. Some- 

 times, however, he remains and breeds in the orchard. Exceptions of this kind seem to occur 

 with other species. This species is connuon at Hudson's Bay, and southwards to Georgia. Its 

 voice is a shrill cry, strong and tremulous. It also has a single note or e7iuc7i, which it often 

 repeats in an eager manner, as it hops about and pei'forms its usual work of digging into the 

 bark of trees. Its plumage is soft, loose, and unwebbed ; hence the name. A great mass of 

 hairs surround the nostrils, which suggest their use as a x>i'otecting barrier when the head is 

 protruded into the decayed wood it so frequently digs into for insect food. 



Lewis' Woodpecker {Melanerpes torquatus) is a singularly marked and elegant bird. 

 Its size is considerably more than the preceding, and it has a more compact and pleasing 







^' 



t^iSS>&'4'' 



THE Tl JGE TOED WOODPECKER —Pdttwi^ ^nf/at^V^ 



plumage. It was named by Wilson in honor of the memory of Captain Lewis, who with 

 General Clark made the first notable excursion into the then unex]ilored countries of the 

 Yellowstone region. This bird is one of several that have the habit of lading acorns in the 

 holes purposely pecked for them in decayed trees. 



The Red-bellied Woodpecker {Cerdurus caroUnus), says Wilson, has all the restless 

 and noisy habits so characteristic of its tribe. It is more shy and less domestic than the Red- 

 headed or any of the spotted Woodpeckers. It is also more solitary. It prefers the largest 

 high timbered woods, and taUest decayed trees of the forest seldom appearing near the ground, 

 on the fences, or in orchards, xts voice is hoarser than any of the others, and its usual note, 



Vol. n.— 50. 



