562 W OODPECKEK/ 



of acorns. In Virginia and Carolina they ftay the whole year, bu'F 

 are not feen in fuch numbers as in fummer. During the winter 

 they are very tame, and are frequently known to come into the- 

 houfes, in the fame manner as the Redbreaft is wont to do in 

 England. 



It is obferved that this fpeeies is found chiefly in old trees ; and 

 the noife they make with their bills may be heard above a mile' 

 diftant. It builds the earlieft of all the Woodpeckers, and gene- 

 rally pretty high from the ground. It is accounted by many 

 people very good eating. 



Buffon * is of the opinion that it is neceffity alone that caufes 

 thefe birds to feed on the vegetables of any kind,,, as it is contrary 

 to the nature of the genus. 



o- 



RED- 

 BREASTED' 

 w 



COMEWHAT lefs than the lath The bill is an inch long, and 



of a brownifh horn-colour : the head, neck, and breaft, crim- 



ibn : from each- noftril is a line of buff, palling under the eye, 



where it finiflies : the back part of the neck mixed with dufky :' 



back and wings black : feveral of the leffer wing coverts, near the 



outfide of the wing, are tipped with white, and others of the greater 



coverts have the outer webs white, making a ftreak of this colour 



parallel to and near the edge of the wing : moll: of the fcapb- 



lars marked with an obfcure yellowifh fpot at the tip : the firtt 



quill feather black, marked on the inner web half way from the 



bafe with round fpots of white; the others fpotted on both webs 



with white; the fecondaries fpotted on the inner web only : under 



wing coverts black and white mixed : the middle of the belly 



* Hlji, del oif. vii. p. 56. 



dufky 



