246 HAIRY WOODPECKER. 



seldom that more than the members of a family are seen together, and even 

 this only until the young are able to provide for themselves. The migratory 

 species, on the contrary, are frequently observed to congregate upon trees 

 laden with fruit. This never happens with the Hairy, Downy, Yellow- 

 bellied, Red-bellied, Canada, or Three-toed Woodpeckers; among some of 

 which, however, a certain change of locality takes place from south to north 

 and backwards, within the limits of the United States, in spring and autumn. 



The Hairy Woodpecker feeds on the larvae of most insects, as well as on 

 the insects themselves. It sometimes launches into the air after a passing 

 one, as indeed is the case with all the Woodpeckers with which I am at 

 present acquainted, although the larger species are less addicted to this mode 

 of pursuing their prey than the smaller. In autumn it frequently feeds on 

 berries near the ground, or on grasses and other fruits among the tops of our 

 tall trees. Its notes are sharp, loud, and at times rolling, like those of others 

 of our smaller species, but frequently uttered singly whilst it is moving on 

 wing or along a tree. 



The hole which it forms for receiving its eggs seldom exceeds two feet in 

 depth, after diverging from its first horizontal direction, sometimes running 

 perpendicularly, but often obliquely. In the Southern States two broods 

 are frequently reared in the season; the first being seen abroad in May, 

 the other in the end of July or the beginning of August. In the 

 Middle Districts it rarely produces more than one brood. I have regularly 

 observed that those pairs which had two broods in Louisiana, raised both in 

 the same nest, and that not unfrequently within a few yards of a house. 

 The eggs of the first hatch are usually six, of the second four. In the 

 Middle Districts the number varies from four to six, and in two instances I 

 found seven. They measure 1 inch in length by 5^ eighths in breadth, are 

 elliptical or almost equally rounded at both ends, smooth, pure white and 

 translucent. The young remain about the nest until well able to fly, as is 

 the case with those of other species. 



Various writers state that the Hairy Woodpecker has been found in 

 England; but this is very doubtful, and at present it does not seem that 

 there are any well authenticated instances. 



I have figured a male and a female; the latter, I believe, not having 

 previously been represented. 



Hairy Woodpecker, Picus villosus, Wils. Araer. Orn., vol. i. p. 150. 



Picus villosds, Bonap. Syn., p. 46. 



Hairy Woodpecker, Nutt. Man., vol. i. p. 575. 



Hairy Woodpecker, Picus villosus, Aud. Orn. Biog., vol. v. p. 164. 



Male, Sf, 14*. Female, Si, 15. 



