Species X. PICUS CAROLINUS. 
RED-BELLIED WOODPECKER. 
[Plate VII. Fig. 2.] 
Picus Carolimis, Linx. Si/st. i., 174, 10. — Pic varie de la Jamaique, Buffon, til, 
72, PL Enl. 597. — Picus varius medius Jamaicensia, Sloan. Jain. 299, 15. — Ja- 
maica Woodpecker, Ebw. 244. — Catesb. i., 19, fig. 2. — A7-ci. Zool. ii., No. IGl. — 
Lath. Si/n. ii., 570, 17. Id. 571, 17. A. Id. B. — Pic rai/e de la Louisiaiie, Buff. 
Tii., 73, PI. Enl. 692. 
This species possesses all the restless and noisy habits so characteris- 
tic of its tribe. It is more shy, and less domestic, than the Ked-headed 
Woodpecker, (P. erythrocefliahis)., or any of the other spotted Wood- 
peckers. It is also more solitary. It prefers the largest, high-timbered 
woods, and tallest decayed trees of the forest ; seldom appearing near 
the ground, on the fences, or in orchards, or open fields ; yet where the 
trees have been deadened, and stand pretty thick, in fields of Indian 
corn, as is common in new settlements, I have observed it to be very 
numerous ; and have found its stomach sometimes completely filled with 
that grain. Its voice is hoarser than any of the others ; and its usual 
note, cJioiv, has often reminded me of the barking of a little lap-dog. 
It is a most expert climber, possessing extraordinary strength in the 
muscles of its feet and claws, and moves about the body, and horizontal 
limbs, of the trees, with equal facility in all directions. It rattles, like 
the rest of the tribe, on the dead limbs, and with such violence as to be 
heard, in still weather, more than half a mile off ; and listens to hear 
the insects it has alarmed. In the lower side of some lofty branch, that 
makes a considerable angle with the horizon, the male and female, in 
conjunction, dig out a circular cavity for their nest, sometimes out of 
the solid wood, but more generally into a hollow limb, twelve or fifteen 
inches above where it becomes solid. This is usually performed early in 
April. The female lays five eggs, of a pure white, or almost semi- 
transparent ; and the young generally make their appearance towards 
the latter end of May, or beginning of June, climbing up to the higher 
parts of the tree, being as yet unable to fly. In this situation they are 
fed for several days, and often become the prey of the Hawks. From 
seeing the old ones continuing their caresses after this period, I believe 
that they often, and perhaps always, produce two broods in a season. 
During the greater part of the summer, the young have the ridge of the 
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