BIRDS OF MINNESOTA. 227 
its unsocial habits, which mostly isolate it from the habitations 
of man, but upon its near relative, the Downy Woodpecker, 
’ which clings to the vicinity of our dwellings when they are 
surrounded with shrubbery and trees. 
SPECIFIC CHARACTERS. 
Head, back of neck, sides of back, wings, and central tail- 
feathers black; stripe above and below the eye, the lower ex- 
tending up the side of the neck; stripe down the middle of back, 
side-feathers of tail, under parts and round spots in rows across 
the wings, white; the male having two bright red spots in the 
white stripes on the back of the head. 
Length, 9; wings, 5; tail, 3.50; bill, 1.12; foot, 1.65. 
Habitat. Middle portion of eastern portion of United States. 
from the Atlantic to the Great Plains. 
DRYOBATES PUBESCENS (L.). (394.) 
DOWNY WOODPECKER. 
This seems to be but a small edition of the other Dryobates 
until we study his habits and characteristics somewhat atten- 
tively, when we find he is a better carpenter, cutting his hole 
into harder wood, leaving the entrance much more artistically 
finished, and in giving the first few inches of its descent into 
the tree, an inclination before it takes a perpendicular course 
for the remaining foot. The excavation is made abundantly 
capacious for the nest, and left as smoothly surfaced as if a 
carpenter of a higher genus had performed the work. And 
instead of dumping the chips at the entrance, he distributes 
them at sufficient distance from the tree to prevent any signs 
of house building for enemies to avail themselves of. In addi- 
tion to these distinguishing traits, these birds are content to 
remain about the districts of their habitual dwelling places for 
nidification, and rearing their young. It is almost unparalleled 
amongst its own family for its strength, energy, diligence, per- 
severance, and absence of fear. The earliest I have succeeded 
in securing eggs has been about the 25th of May, but I believe 
it occasionally deposits them earlier. Late in fall, in winter, 
and in early spring, this species is much associated with the 
Titmice and Nuthatches in their rambles for food, both of 
which it usually leads in the hunt. In severe winter weather 
the whole group keep to the evergreen swamps very closely 
until it relaxes, when they make up time in the deciduous for- 
ests. On the whole, it is not quite as numerous as its near rela- 
tive, but far more social. 
