Species VIII. PIOUS QUERULUS. 



RED-COCKADED WOODPECKER. 



[Plate XV. Fig. 1.] 



This new species I first discovered in the pine woods of North Caro- 

 lina. The singularity of its voice, which greatly resembles the chirping 

 of young nestlings, and the red streak on the side of its head, suggested 

 the specific name I have given it. It also extends through South Caro- 

 lina and Georgia, at least as far as the Altamaha river. Observing the 

 first specimen I found to be so slightly marked with red, I suspected it 

 to be a young bird, or imperfect in its plumage, but the great numbers 

 I afterwards shot, satisfied me that this is a peculiarity of the species. 

 It appeared exceedingly restless, active, and clamorous; and every- 

 where I found its manners the same. 



This bird seems to be an intermediate link between the Red-bellied 

 and the Hairy Woodpecker, represented in Plates VII. and IX. of this 

 work. It has the back of the former, and the white belly and spotted 

 neck of the latter ; but wants the breadth of red in both, and is less 

 than either. A preserved specimen has been deposited in the Museum 

 of this city. 



This Woodpecker is seven inches and a half long, and thirteen broad ; 

 the upper part of the head is black ; the back barred with twelve white, 

 transversely, 'semicircular lines, and as many of black, alternately ; the 

 cheeks and sides of the neck are white ; whole lower parts the same ; 

 from the lower mandible, a list of black passes towards the shoulder of 

 the wing, where it is lost in small black spots on each side of the breast ; 

 the wings are black, spotted with white ; the four middle tail feathers 

 black, the rest white spotted with black ; rump black, variegated with 

 white ; the vent white, spotted with black ; the hairs that cover the nos- 

 trils are of a pale cream color ; the bill deep slate ; but what forms the 

 most distinguishing peculiarity of this bird, is a fine line of vermilion, 

 on each side of the head, seldom occupying more than the edge of a 

 single feather. The female is destitute of this ornament ; but in the rest 

 of her plumage difi"ers in nothing from the male. The iris of the eye, 

 in both, was hazel. 



The stomachs of all those I opened were filled with small black in- 

 sects, and fragments of large beetles. The posterior extremities of the 

 tongue reached nearly to the base of the upper mandible. 



(187) 



