THE SEARCHERS. 



33 



myself and my baby ; the man looked blank and foolish, while the others stared with still greater 

 astonishment. After diverting myself for a minute or two at their expense, I drew my Woodpecker 

 from under the cover, and a general laugh took place. I took him upstairs, and locked him in 

 my room while I went to look after my horse. In less than an hour I returned, and on opening the 

 door he set up the same distressing shout, which now appeared to proceed from grief that he had 

 been discovered in his efforts at escape. He had mounted along the side of the window, nearly as 

 high as the ceiling, a little below which he had begun to break through. The bed was covered with 

 large pieces of plaster. The latter was exposed for at least fifteen inches square, and a hole opened 

 large enough to admit the fist close to the weather-boards ; so that in less than another hour he would 



THE RED-HEADED BLACK ^oovif'E.cvx.v. {Mela7ierfes eiythrocephalus). 



certainly have made his way through. I nov,^ tied a string to his leg, fastened him to the table, and 

 again left him. As I re-ascended the stairs I heard him again hard at work, and on entering had 

 the mortification to find that he had almost ruined the mahogany table, on which he seemed to have 

 wreaked his whole vengeance. While engaged in taking a drawing of him, he cut me severely in 

 several places, and, on the whole, displayed such an . unconquerable spirit that I was frequently 

 tempted to restore him to his native woods. He Hved with me nearly three days, but refused all 

 sustenance, and I witnessed his death with regret." 



The head and bill of this species are held in great esteem, as a sort of charm or amulet, by 

 many tribes of the American Indians, who ornament their belts with them ; and Europeans eagerly 

 purchase them as curiosities. When wounded, this Woodpecker generally ascends the nearest tree 

 in a spiral direction, till it attains the topmost branches, where it hides ; but if intercepted and laid 

 hold of, it defends itself desperately, both with its beak and claws, inflicting severe lacerations. 



VOL. III. — 84 



