GOLD- WINGED WO ODPE CKER. 



47 



tame ; fed on young ears of Indian-corn, refused apples, but 

 ate the berries of the sour gum greedily, small winter grapes, 

 and several other kinds of berries ; exercised himself frequently 

 in climbing, or rather hopping perpendicularly along the sides 

 of the cage ; and, as evening drew on, fixed himself in a high 

 hanging or perpendicular position, and slept with his head 

 in his wing. As soon as dawn appeared, even before it was 

 light enough to perceive him distinctly across the room, he 

 descended to the bottom of the cage, and began his attack on 

 the ears of Indian-corn, rapping so loud as to be heard from 

 every room in the house. After this, he would sometimes 

 resume his former position, and take another nap. He was 

 beginning to become very amusing, and even sociable, when, 

 after a lapse of several weeks, he became drooping, and died, 

 as I conceived, from the effects of his wound.* 



* Mr Audubon says they live well 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 a week." The same gentleman, when speaking of their 

 flight, again adds, that it is more " strong and prolonged, being performed 

 in a straighter manner, than any other of our woodpeckers. They 

 propel themselves by numerous beats of the wings, with short intervals 

 of sailing, during which they scarcely fall from the horizontal. When 

 passing from one tree to another, they also fly in a straight line, until 

 within a few yards of the spot on which they intend to alight, when 

 they suddenly raise themselves a few feet, and fasten themselves to the 

 bark of the trunk by their claws and tail. Their migrations, although 

 partial (as many remain even in the middle districts during the severest 

 winters), are performed under night, as is known by their note and the 

 whistling of their wings, which are heard from the ground." Of its 

 movement he also speaks : " It easily moves sidewise on a small branch, 

 keeping itself as erect as other birds usually do ; but with equal care 

 does it climb by leaps along the trunks of trees or their branches, 

 descend, and move sidewise or spirally, keeping at all times its head 

 upwards, and its tail pressed against the bark, as a support." 



I have thus at length transcribed Mr Audubon's minuter details, as 

 tending to show the differences of habit in this form, which will be still 

 better observed when compared with those we have yet to describe. 



There is another peculiarity in these birds, and some others of the 



