WOODPECKER. 409 



the outmost feather clotted with whitish on the margin ; beneath 

 yellow, more or less black at the ends, which are somewhat bifid ; 

 shafts of all but the two middle ones yellow halfway from the base. 



The female differs chiefly in wanting the black whisker on the 

 jaw, and having the general colours less vivid. 



Inhabits Canada, Virginia, Carolina, and we believe many other 

 parts, as far as Mexico and Paraguay; plenty about New Jersey and 

 New York, where it is called by some Hittock, Pint, and Flicker, 

 by others High-hole. The two first names arise from the note, and 

 the last no doubt from the situation in which it places the nest ; it is 

 seen for the most part on the ground, rarely climbing the trees, like 

 others of the genus, except occasionally to sit on the branches; lives 

 for the most part on insects, woodlice, berries, Indian corn, and 

 commonly is so fat as to be thought very palatable for food ; is called 

 by some the Lark Woodpecker. Visits the neighbourhood of Albany 

 Fort, in the northern parts of America, in April, leaving it in Sep- 

 tember, and called Outhee-quan-now or Outhe-quan-nor-now, from 

 the shafts of the quills and tail being yellow ; is not unfrequent in 

 Georgia, where it stays the whole year; chiefly found on the sides 

 of ponds, generally on the ground, but when disturbed flies up into 

 the trees ; in defect of insects will eat dogwood, and other berries, 

 and in the winter those of the sumach ; but is particularly fond of the 

 seeds of the red cedar, on which it grows very fat ; builds chiefly in 

 old trees, and will often make a hole for the nest in hard and sound 

 wood ; lays from four to six plain blush-coloured eggs, upon the 

 chips within. 



Capt. Cook, in his last voyage, found this at Nootka Sound. 



VOL. III. G G G 



