PASSERES-PICID.E — PICUS. 
187 
THE DOWNY WOODPECKER. 
PiCUS PUBESCENS. 
PLATE XVI. FIG. 35. 
(STATE COLLECTION.) 
Picuspubescens. Linn^us, Syst. Nat. p. 175. Pennant, Arct. Zool. Vol. 2, p. 274. Wilson, Am. Orn. Vol. 
1, p. 153, pi. 9, fig. 4. Vieillot, Ois. de l’Am. Vol. 2, p. 65, pi. 121 (male). Bonaparte, 
Ann. Lyc. Vol. 2, p. 46. Audubon, fol. pi. 112. Nuttall, Man. Orn. Vol. 1, p 576. 
P . (Dendrocopus) id. Rich. & Swainson, F. B. A. Vol. 2, p. 307. Kirtland, Zool. Ohio. p. 179. Peabody, 
Mass. Rep. p. 337. Audubon, B. of Am. Vol. 4, p. 249, pi. 263; gairdneri? Id. p. 252. 
P. (Dendrocopus) pubescens . Bonaparte, Geographical and Comp. List, p. 39. 
P. id. Giraud, Birds of Long Island, p. 177. 
Characteristics. Resembles the preceding. Six white bars on the wings. Three outer 
tail-feathers on each side white. A narrow red occipital band, which 
in the female is white. Length, 6-7 inches. 
Description. Third and fourth quills longest, subequal. Tail wedge-shaped, of ten 
tapering pointed feathers. 
Color. Above black, varied with white. Summit of the head, eye-stripe, and below 
the cheeks black. A band over the eye, and one beneath, white. Wings brownish, with 
square white spots on the outer vanes, and round ones on the inner ones, and also on the tips, 
which form six narrow transverse bars. Dull white beneath. Female, brownish white 
beneath ; occipital band white. 
Length, 6 • 5 - 7 • 0. . 
This species, which is a resident in this State during the whole year, is better known under 
the name of Sapsucker, from a common belief that it sucks the sap of trees. In looking at a 
fruit tree, for instance, we may frequently see a series of holes completely and regularly 
encircling the trunk, and which are made by this species. The popular belief is, that the 
bird makes these holes to suck out the sap; and one ornithologist at least (Dr. Kirtland) 
countenances this belief. All other naturalists assert that it is only in search of insects; and 
the structure of its tongue, which is barbed at the tip, like all the other species, strengthens 
this opinion. It has been suggested that these holes are made in order to attract insects to 
the overflowing sap, and thus to ensure their capture. It may, however, occasionally, by its 
regular systematic attack on a tree, perform an operation analogous to girdling, and thus 
incidentally be injurious. Its food consists of insects and their lame, and fruits, such as 
grapes and berries, especially those of the poke-weed. Eggs white immaculate. It ranges 
from Texas to the 58th parallel of north latitude. 
Mr. Audubon has described, under the name of gairdneri, a bird scarcely to be distin¬ 
guished from this species, except that the fourth toe is somewhat longer, the bill stouter, and 
the fifth quill longest. 
24’ 
