HAIRY WOODPECKER. 



151 



The Hairy Woodpecker is nine inches long, and fifteen in ex- 

 tent; crown black; line over and under the eye white; the eye is 

 placed in a black line that widens as it descends to the back ; hind 

 head scarlet, sometimes intermixed with black ; nostrils hid under 

 remarkably thick, bushy, recumbent hairs or bristles ; under the bill 

 are certain long hairs thrown forward and upwards as represented 

 in the figure ; bill a bluish horn color, grooved, wedged at the end, 

 straight, and about an inch and a quarter long ; touches of blacky 

 proceeding from the lower mandible, end in a broad black stripe 

 that joins the black on the shoulder ; back black, divided by a broad 

 lateral strip of white, the feathers composing which are loose and 

 un webbed, resembling hairs, whence its name; rump and shoulders 

 of the wing black; wings black, tipped and spotted with white, three 

 rows of spots being visible on the secondaries, and five on the pri- 

 maries; greater wing coverts also spotted with white; tail as in the 

 others, cuneiform, consisting of ten strong-shafted and pointed fea- 

 thers, the four middle ones black, the next partially white, the two 

 exterior ones white, tinged at the tip with a brownish burnt color ; 

 tail coverts black ; whole lower side pure white ; legs, feet and claws 

 light blue, the latter remarkably large and strong; inside of the 

 mouth flesh colored ; tongue pointed, beset with barbs, and capable 

 of being protruded more than an inch and a half; the os hyoides, 

 in this species, pass on each side of the neck, ascend the scull, pass 

 down toward the nostril, and are wound round the bone of the right 

 eye, which projects considerably more than the left for its accom- 

 modation. The great mass of hairs that cover the nostril appears 

 to be designed as a protection to the front of the head, when the 

 bird is engaged in digging holes into the wood. The membrane 

 which encloses the brain in this, as in all the other species of Wood- 

 peckers, is also of extraordinary strength, no doubt to prevent any 

 bad effects from violent concussion while the bird is employed in. 

 digging for food. The female wants the red on the hind head ; and 

 the white below is tinged with brownish. The manner of flight of 



