THE GOLDEN-WINGED WOODPECKER. 283 



is merriment itself, as it imitates a prolonged and jovial laugh, heard at a 

 considerable distance. Several males pursue a female, reach her, and, to 

 prove the force and truth of their love, bow their heads, spread their tail, 

 and move sidevvise, backwards and forwards, performing such antics, as 

 might induce any one witnessing them, if not of a most morose temper, to 

 join his laugh to theirs. The female flies to another tree, where she is 

 closely followed by one, two, or even half a dozen of these gay suitors, and 

 where again the same ceremonies are gone through. No fightings occur, no 

 jealousies seem to exist among these beaux, until a marked preference is 

 shewn to some individual, when the rejected proceed in search of another 

 female. In this manner all the Golden-winged Woodpeckers are soon 

 happily mated. Each pair immediately proceed to excavate the trunk of a 

 tree, and finish a hole in it sufficient to contain themselves and their young. 

 They both work with great industry and apparent pleasure. Should the 

 male, for instance, be employed, the female is close to him, and congratulates 

 him on the removal of every chip which his bill sends through the air. 

 While he rests, he appears to be speaking to her on the most tender subjects, 

 and when fatigued, is at once assisted by her. In this manner, by the 

 alternate exertions of each, the hole is dug and finished. They caress each 

 other on the branches, climb about and around the tree with apparent delight, 

 rattle with their bill against the tops of the dead branches, chase all their 

 cousins the Red-heads, defy the Purple Grakles to enter their nest, feed 

 plentifully on ants, beetles and larvae, cackling at intervals, and ere two 

 weeks have elapsed, the female lays either four or six eggs, the whiteness 

 and transparency of which are doubtless the delight of her heart. If to raise 

 a numerous progeny may contribute to happiness, these Woodpeckers are in 

 this respect happy enough, for they have two broods each season; and as 

 this might induce you to imagine Woodpeckers extremely abundant in our 

 country, I may at once tell you that they are so. 



Even in confinement, the Golden-winged Woodpecker never suffers its 

 naturally lively spirit to droop. It feeds well, and by way of amusement, 

 will continue to destroy as much furniture in a day as can well be mended 

 by a different kind of workman in two. Therefore, kind reader, do not any 

 longer believe that Woodpeckers are such stupid, forlorn, dejected and 

 unprovided for beings as they have hitherto been represented. In fact, I 

 know not one of the species found in our extensive woods, that does not 

 exhibit quite as much mirth and gaiety as the present bird. They are 

 serviceable birds in many points of view, and therefore are seldom shot at, 

 unless by idlers; their flesh, moreover, not being very savoury. They have 

 ample range, and wherever they alight, there is to be found the food to 

 which they at all times give decided preference. 



