34 cassell's book of BiRns. 



The BLACK WOODPECKERS {Mchvterpes) are less remarkable for their size than for the 

 beauty of their plumage. In these birds the body is powerful, tiie head large, and the neck short. 

 The beak is straight, broader than it is high at the base, its upper mandible is arched, and its margins 

 turned inwards ; the distinguishing characteristics of the bill, however, are the four small parallel 

 ridges that commence at the nostrils, and extend as far as the centre of the beak. The tarsus equals 

 the reversible toe and its claw in length ; the fourth and fiftii wing-quills are of equal size, and longer 

 than the rest ; the tail is much rounded ; and a small space around the eyes is quite bare. Black, 

 red, and white predominate in the coloration of the plumage. All the various members of this 

 group inhabit North and South America. 



THE RED-HEADED BLACK WOODPECKER. 



The Red-headed Black Woodpecker {Mdanerpes erythrocephahis) is of a bright red colour on 

 the head and neck. The mantle, wings, and tail are of a jetty blackness ; the hinder quills, rump, and 

 under side pure white. The eye is brown, the beak and feet blueish black. The female is smaller 

 and less brightly coloured than her mate. In the young the head, throat, mantle, and breast are of a 

 greyish brown, marked with blackish brown, crescent-shaped spots. The exterior quills are blackish 

 brown, the inner ones reddish white, striped with blackish brown towards the tip ; the tail-feathers are 

 deep brownish black. This species is nine inches long and seventeen broad ; the wing measures four 

 inches and five-sixths, and the tail two inches and three-quarters. 



" The Red-heads," says Audubon, " may be considered as residents of the Northern States, 

 inasmuch as many of them remain in the southern districts during the whole winter, and breed there 

 in summer ; the greater number, however, pass to countries farther south. Their migration takes 

 place at night, is commenced in the middle of September, and is continued for a month or six weeks. 

 They then fly high above the trees, far apart, like a disbanded army, propelling themselves by 

 reiterated flaps of the wing at the end of each successive curve which they describe in their flight. 

 The note which they emit at this time is different from the usual one — sharp and easily heard from 

 the ground, although the birds may be out of sight ; this note is continued as if it were necessary for 

 keeping the straggling party in good humour. At dawn of day the whole alight on the tops of the 

 dead trees about the plantations, and remain in search of food until the approach of sunset, when they 

 again, one after the other, mount the air and continue their journey. 



" With the exception of the Mocking Bird, I know no species so gay and frolicsome ; indeed, 

 their whole life is one of pleasure. They find a superabundance of food everywhere, as well as the best 

 facilities for raising their broods. They do not seem to be much afraid of man, although they have 

 scarcely a more dangerous enemy. When alighted on a fence-stake by the road or in a field, and one 

 approaches them, they gradually move sidewise out of sight, peeping now and then to discover your 

 intention ; and when you are just close and opposite, he still until you are past, when they hop to the 

 top of the stake and rattle upon it with their bill, as if to congratulate themselves upon the success of 

 their cunning. Should you approach within arm's length, the Woodpecker flies to the next stake from 

 you, bends to peep and rattle again, as if to provoke you to a continuance of what seems to him 

 excellent sport. No sooner are the cherries ripe than these birds attack them ; and I may safely say 

 that a hundred have been shot on one tree during a single day. Pears, peaches, apples, figs, 

 mulberries, even peas are also thus attacked. They have another bad habit — that of sucking the eggs of 

 small birds, and are often successful in entering the pigeon-houses ; the corn as it ripens is laid bare by 

 their bill, when they feed on the top parts of the ear. All this while the Red-heads are full of gaiety. 

 No sooner have they satisfied their hunger than small parties of them assemble in the tops and branches 

 of decayed trees, from which they chase different insects, launching after them for eight or ten yards, 



