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, GOLD-W.,sNGED WOODPECKER. 3l 
regard from the husbandman, were he not accused, and perhaps not 
without just cause, of being too partial to the Indian corn, when in 
that state which is usually called roasting-ears. His visits are indeed 
rather frequent about this time; and the farmer, suspecting what is 
going on, steals through among the rows with his gun, bent on ven- 
geance, and forgetful of the benevolent sentiment of the poet, that 
Just as wide of justice he must fall, 
Who thinks all made for one, not one for all. 
But farmers, in general, are not much versed in poetry, and pretty 
well acquainted with the value of corn, from the hard labor requisite 
in raising it. 
In rambling through the woods one day, [ happened to shoot one of 
these birds, and wounded him slightly in the wing. Finding him in 
full feather, and seemingly but little hurt, I took him home, and put 
him into a large cage, made of willows, intending to keep him in my 
own room, that we might become better acquainted. As soon as he 
found himself enclosed on all sides, he Jost no time in idle fluttering, 
but, throwing himself against the bars of the cage, began instantly to 
demolish the willows, battering them with great vehemence, and ut- 
tering a loud, piteous kind of cackling, similar to that of a hen when 
she is alarmed and takes to wing. Poor Baron Trenck never labored 
with more eager diligence at the walls of his prison, than this son of 
the forest in his exertions for liberty; and he exercised his powerful 
bill with such force, digging into the sticks, seizing and shaking them 
so from side to side, that he soon opened for himself a passage; and, 
though I repeatedly repaired the breach, and barricadoed every open- . 
ing, in the best manner I could, yet, on my return into the room, I 
always found him at large, climbing up the chairs, or running about 
the floor, where, from the dexterity of his motions, moving backward, 
forward, and sidewise, with the same facility, it became difficult to get 
hold of him again. Having placed him in a strong wire cage, he 
seemed to give up all hopes of making his escape, and soon became 
very tame; fed on young ears of Indian corn; refused apples, but.ate 
the berries of the sour gum greedily, small winter grapes, and several 
other kinds of berries; exercised himself frequently in climbing, or 
rather hopping perpendicularly along the sides of the cage; and, as 
evening drew on, fixed himself in a high hanging, or perpendicular 
position, and slept with his head in his wing. As soon as dawn 
appeared, even before it was light enough to perceive him distinctly 
across the room, he descended to the bottom of the cage, and began 
his attack on the ears of Indian corn, rapping so loud, as to be heard 
from every room in the house. After this, he would sometimes resume 
his former position, and take another nap. He was beginning to 
become very amusing, and even sociable, when, after a lapse of 
several weeks, he became drooping, and died, as I conceived, from 
the effects of his wound.* 
* Mr. Audubon says they live well in confinement. ‘The Golden-winged 
Woodpecker never suffers its naturally lively spirit to droop. It feeds well; and 
by way of amusement will continue to destroy as much furniture ‘m a day, as can 
well be meated by a different kind of workman in a week.” The same gentleman, 
