150 
PICUS ERYTIIROCEPHALUS. 
because there the prying' eye of man is less to 
dreaded. Towards the mountains, particularly in 
vicinity of creeks and rivers, these birds are extreme/ 
abundant, especially in the latter end of sunnn‘'’j 
Wherever yon travel in the interior at that season, j;®, 
hear them screaming from the adjoining woods, rattJn'o 
on the dead limbs of trees, or on the fences, where 
are perpetually seen flitting from stake to stake, on t**, 
roadside, before you. Wherever there is a tree, ® 
trees, of the wild cherry, covered with ripe fruit, 
you see them busy among the branches; and, in pasf'*^ 
orchards, you may ea.sily knou' where to find the carli*^^ ’ 
sweetest apples, by observing those trees, on or n^j 
which the red-headed woodpecker is skulking; for *’ 
is so excellent a connoisseur in fruit, that wherever 
apple orpeartree isfound broached by him,it is sure to 
among the ripest and best flavoured : when alarmedi 
seizes a capital one by striking; his open hill deep hn 
it, and hears it off to the woods. When the Indian eo''' 
is in its rich, succulent, milky state, he attacks it n"'* 
Sfreat eagernes.s, opening a passage through the 
rous folds of the husk, and feeding on it with voi'ae’l^ 
Tlie girdled, or deadened timber, so common anio,''.' 
cornfields in the hack settlements, are his faroui’’ . 
retreats, whence he sallies out to make his depredatio"* 
He is fond of the ripe berries of the sour gum, and 
pretty regular visits to the cherry trees, when load*'® 
with fruit. Towards fall he often ap])roaches the 
oi- farm house, and raps on the shingles and we8tl'‘’j 
hoards : he is of a gay and frolicsome disposition ; *J’* 
half a dozen of the fraternity .are frequently seen di''"'e 
and vociferiiting around the high dead limbs of 
large tree, pursuing and playing with each other, 
amusing the passongei- with their gambols. Their n<»’ 
or cry is shrill and lively, and so much resembles t"* 
of a species of tree-frog, which frequents the same tre > 
that it is sometimes difficult to distinguish the one fro”* 
the other. 
Such arc the vicious traits, if I may so .speak, iu j , 
character of the red-headed woodpecker ; and I doi* 
