THE YELLOW-BELLIED WOODPECKER. 263 



The female differs only in having the tints somewhat fainter, the white 

 markings on the back smaller, and the yellow of the lower parts duller. 



Length to end of tail Sg inches; bill along the ridge |£; wing from 

 flexure 5-^; tail 3 T 7 2« 



THE YELLOW-BELLIED WOODPECKER. 



7-Picus varius, Linn. 

 PLATE CCLXVIL— Male and Female. 



This beautiful species returns to Louisiana and the other Southern States 

 about the beginning of October. It remains there during the winter, and 

 takes its departure before the beginning of April, after which period I have 

 never observed it in these districts. It is seen in Kentucky, and a few 

 breed there; but the greater number return to the middle and especially the 

 northern parts of the Union. During the winter months, it associates with 

 the Hairy, the Red-bellied, and the Downy Woodpeckers. Its notes, which 

 are extremely plaintive, differ widely from those of any other species, and 

 are heard at a considerable distance in the woods. 



The Yellow-bellied Woodpecker prefers the interior of the forest during 

 spring and summer, seldom shewing itself near the habitations of man at 

 those seasons. It is a sly and suspicious bird, spending most of its time in 

 trees which have close branches and dense foliage. It generally bores its 

 nest at a considerable height, and usually in the trunk of an undecayed tree, 

 immediately beneath a large branch, and on its southern side. The hole is 

 worked out by the male as well as the female, in the manner followed by 

 other species, and to the depth of from fifteen to twenty-four inches. The 

 aperture is just large enough to admit the birds, but the hole widens gradu- 

 ally towards the bottom, where it is large and roomy. The eggs, which are 

 from four to six, and pure white, with a slight blush, are deposited on the 

 chips without any nest. The young seldom leave the hole until they are 

 fully fledged, after which they follow their parents, in a straggling manner, 

 until the approach of spring, when the males become shy towards each 

 other, and quarrel whenever they meet, frequently erecting the feathers of 

 the head and fighting desperately. 



