282 THE GOLDEN-WINGED WOODPECKER. 



the sides of the neck black; a band of dull white runs over the hind neck, 

 and is continuous anteriorly with a large patch of reddish-white occupying 

 the fore neck and part of the breast, the rest of the breast and the sides are 

 rose-red, becoming of a deeper tint backwards; the lower wing-coverts, 

 abdomen, and lower tail-coverts black. 



Length to end of tail 11 inches; bill along the ridge l-^; wing from 

 flexure 7 T \; tail 4^; tarsus l T °f; hind toe j|, its claw y 3 ^; second toe / 2 -, its 

 claw T 5 2-; third toe T f , its claw f |; fourth toe -ff , its claw T 6 ^. 



Adult Female. 



The female resembles the male, being scarcely distinguishable by her 

 slightly duller tints, and the less extent of the red on the fore part of the 

 head. A young bird obtained in September, has the bill quite pointed, the 

 red on the head scarcely apparent, that on the lower parts intermixed with 

 greyish-white, the fore part of the neck dull grey, and the white ring on the 

 hind neck wanting; many of the feathers there, however, having one or two 

 white spots near the end. 



THE GOLDEN-WINGED WOODPECKER. 



•f Picus auratus, Linn. 

 PLATE CCLXXIIL— Male and Females. 



It is generally agreeable to be in the company of individuals who are 

 naturally animated and pleasant. For this reason, nothing can be more 

 gratifying than the society of Woodpeckers in the forests. To prove this to 

 you, kind reader, I shall give you a full account of the habits of the Golden- 

 winged Woodpecker. 



This species, which is usually called Pique-bois jaune by the French 

 settlers in Louisiana, and receives the name of High-holder, Yucker, and 

 Flicker in other parts of the Union, being seldom or never graced with the 

 epithet Golden-ioinged, employed by naturalists, is one of the most lively of 

 our birds, and is found over the whole of the United States. 



No sooner has spring called them to the pleasant duty of making love, as 

 it is called, than their voice, which, by the way, is not at all disagreeable to 

 the ear of man, is heard from the tops of high decayed trees, proclaiming 

 with delight the opening of the welcome season. Their note at this period 



