250 THE DOWNY WOODPECKER. 



ment, sometimes transverse to the tree for four or five inches, and then 

 longitudinal. The hole is rendered smooth and conveniently large through- 

 out, the entrance being perfectly round, and just large enough to admit one 

 bird at a time. The eggs, commonly six in number, pure white, and trans- 

 lucent, are deposited on the bare wood. In the Southern and Middle States, 

 two broods are raised in the season; farther north seldom more than one. 

 The young follow their parents through the woods, in company with 

 Nuthatches and Creepers, and seem at all times lively and happy. Their 

 shrill rolling notes are heard at a considerable distance, as well as those 

 which they use when calling to each other. Their food, during summer, 

 consists of insects and their larva?; but, at the approach of autumn, they feed 

 on fruits of various kinds, especially small grapes, and the berries of the 

 poke-weed. The extensile portion of the tongue of this species, as well as 

 of Picus varius, P. villosus, and P. querulus, is cylindrical or vermiform, 

 while the extremity, or tongue itself, is linear, flat above, convex beneath, 

 with projecting edges which are serrated backwards, the tip pointed. 



The flight of the Downy Woodpecker, like that of the other species, is 

 performed by glidings and undulations, between each of which it utters a 

 single click note; and, although usually short, is capable, on occasion, of 

 being protracted. The bird is by no means shy or suspicious, and scarcely 

 pays any attention to man, even when standing close to the tree on which it 

 is at work. Towards winter many individuals migrate southward, and spend 

 their time in the immediate neighbourhood of the planter's dwelling. 



I have observed that during their stay in the Floridas, Georgia, and the 

 Carolinas, their breast and belly are so soiled by the carbonaceous matter 

 adhering to the trees, in consequence of the burning of the grass at that 

 season, that one might be apt to take a specimen in that state, as belonging 

 to a different species. 



Downy Woodpecker, Picus pubescens, Wils. Amer. Orn., vol. i. p. 153. 



Picus pobescens, Bonap. Syn., p. 46. 



Picus (Dendrocopus) pubescens, Downy Woodpecker, Swains, and Rich. F. Bor. 



Amer., vol. ii. p. 307. 

 Downy Woodpecker. Nutt. Man., vol. i. p. 576. 

 Downy Woodpecker, Picus pubescens, Aud. Orn. Biog., vol. ii. p. 81; vol. v. p. 539. 



Male, 6f, 12. 



Breeds from Texas to Labrador, and northward to lat. 58°. Common 

 throughout the interior to the eastern bases of the Rocky Mountains. In 

 every district a constant resident. 



Adult Male. 



Bill longish, straight, strong, tapering, compressed, slightly truncated and 



