166 BRITISH AND EUROPEAN BIRDS. 



That note is the Woodpecker's, — there may'stthou see 

 The harsh screaming scansor on many a tree. 



cond, Mexico. Eggs five or six, greenish, spotted with black, 

 which it lays in a hole scooped out in a decaying tree; the elm, 

 the asp, or the ash, is' usually chosen, rarely if ever the oak for 

 such a purpose. A modern poet, Mr. Moore, has immorta- 

 lized this bird in a beautiful song called the Woodpecker ; it is 

 well known, but the first stanza it may be bete permitted me 

 to quote : 



"I knew by the smoke that so gracefully curl'd 

 Above the green elms that a cottage was near; 

 And I said, if there's peace to be found in the world, 



A heart that was humble might hope for it here. 

 Every leaf was at rest, and I heard not a sound, 

 But the Woodpecker tapping the hollow beech tree." 



The note of this bird is sufficiently described in the text. 



The Principalis, White-billed Woodpecker, or Ivory- 

 billed Woodpecker, (supposed to be the largest of the tribe,) is 

 black, crest scarlet, bill prodigiously strong, elegantly fluted, 

 and as white as ivory ; cap in the female not coloured ; twenty 

 inches long. Feeds on the worms found in rotten trees; sto- 

 mach an oblong pouch, not muscular like the gizzards of grani- 

 vorous birds. Inhabits America from New Jersey to Brazil; 

 habits like the last species. This bird from the great quantity 

 of chips which it makes is called, by the Spaniards, the Carpen- 

 ter's bird. 



The Erythrocephalus or Red-headed Woodpecker has the 

 head wholly red, wings and tail black, belly white ; female 

 head brown ; nine and a half inches long ; habits like the last. 

 Found in North America; in the winter, grows tame, and en- 

 ters houses like the red-breast ; migrates ; feeds on acorns, 

 fruits, and Indian corn. 



