226 PICID.E. 



These birds are exceedingly shy and unsociable, and 

 scarcely associate with their own hind, especially during the 

 breeding season, at which time they will scarcely allow one of 

 their own species to locate itself within a mile. The nightly 

 retreat of this species is in a hole in some tree. The Black 

 Woodpecker is a strong, active, and lively bird ; its restless 

 nature drives it from spot to spot ; and when aware of being 

 observed too nearly, it endeavours to effect its escape \m- 

 noticed by its pursuers at an incredible rate, but may gene- 

 rally be detected by the noise it makes, first in one place, 

 then in another, in less time than seems possible. When 

 hurried it runs up a tree, taking reiterated leaps forward, 

 with such force, that its claws may plainly be heard hooking 

 into the rough bark of the tree, and its tail beating against 

 it alternately to balance itself. Under these circumstances, 

 the bird holds its head back and raises its breast from the 

 tree, which gives it in that attitude a noble appearance. 



The alertness of the Black Woodpecker in running up the 

 stems and branches of a tree, is equalled by the ease and 

 swiftness with which he runs round and round them, when 

 shunning observation, in the same posture as before de- 

 scribed, with the head thrown back and the breast raised. 

 To descend with the head downwards, appears impossible 

 to all the Woodpeckers, for which reason they all commence 

 their operations at the bottom of a tree, running upwards in 

 search of their insect food among the bark and inequalities of 

 the stems. For running on the ground, the Black Wood- 

 pecker is not formed ; and it is his usual custom to fly direct 

 from the top of a tree to the ground. 



The facility with which this bird makes a hole in a tree 

 for its sleeping and nesting apartment is very surprising, 

 loosening splinters of wood several inches long and many 

 lines broad, by which process he makes a noise as if woodmen 

 were at work in the forest. 



