418 



THE RED-HEADED WOODPECKER. 



chorr, has often reminded me of the bark of a lap-dog. It is a Piost expert climber, possessing 

 extraordiarny strength in the muscles of its feet and claws, and moves about the body and limbs 

 of trees with great facility. It rattles likes the others of its tribe on dead limbs, and with such 

 violence as to be heai'd in clear weather more than a half mile off. Like others, it digs out for 

 itself a nesting-place in the limb of a tree, producing two broods in a season. 



This species inhabits a large range of country ; in all portions it seems to be resident, or 

 nearly so. The benefits derived from such busy workers after pest insects, that lie lurking 

 beneath the barks of trees in our forests, must be incalculable. 



The Red-cockaded Woodpecker {Picns quernlus). Wilson first discovered this bii'd, 

 in the woods of North (.'arolina. The singularity of its voice, which qixite resembles that of 

 young nestlings, and the red streak on the side of its head, suggested the specific name he 

 gave it. He found it also in South C'arolina and Georgia. It is thought to be an intermediate 

 form between the Ked-bellied and Hairy ^Voodpecker. The distinguishing character is the 

 fine line of vermilion on each side of the head. 



The California Woodpecker {Melanerpes formicivorus) is especially a Pacific coast 

 bird, extending to Northern Mexico. Dr. Heerman describes this as one of the noisiest as well 

 as the most abundant species in California. It catches insects on the wing, after the manner 

 of the Fly-catchers. This bird is noted for its habit of storing acorns in dead trees, by pecking 

 holes for each nut, and forcing them into them. 



America possesses many species, among which the Red-headed Woodpecker deserves 

 a short notice, as being a good representative of the Black Woodpeckers. 



It is one of the commonest of American birds, bold, fearless of man, and even venturing 

 within the precincts of towns. The habits of this bird are well told by Audubon and Wilson. 



The former author re- 

 marks of this bird : 

 "When alighted on 

 a fence stake by the 

 road, or in a field, and 

 one approaches them, 

 they gradually move 

 sideways out of sight, 

 peeping now and then 

 to discover your inten- 

 tion, and when you are 

 quite close and ojipo- 

 site, lie still until you 

 li a V e passed, when 

 they hop to the top of 

 the stake, and rattle 

 upon it with their bill, 

 as if to congratulate 

 themselves on the suc- 

 cess of their cunning. 

 Should you approacli 

 within arm's length, 

 which may frequently 

 be done, the Wood- 

 pecker flies to the first stake or the second from you, bends his head to peep, and rattles 

 again, as if to provoke you to continuance of what seems to him excellent sport. He alights 

 on the roof of the house, hops along it, beats the shingles, uttei-s a cry, and dives into your 

 garden to pick the finest strawberries he can discover." 



RED-HEADED WOODPECKER.— PJciM erylhrocephalus. 



