154 
PICUS CAROLINUS. 
42. FICUS CABOLIlfUS, UNN IIED-BEIHED WOODPECKER' 
WILSON, PLATE TII. FIO. 11.— EDINBOllBH COLLEGE MOSEO>'' 
This species pos.?esses all the restless and noisy 
so characteristic of its tribe. It is more shy and 1^'’, | 
dome.stic than the red-headed one (P. e.rijthroce.j)hol^^^’' 
or any of the other spotted woodpeckers. It is 
more solitary. It prefers the largest, high-tinihe*'® 
woods, and tallest decayed trees of the forest; s®' 
appearing near the ground, on the fences, or in orchai<^ 
or open tiehls ; yet where the trees have been deadfU^.^ 
and stand pretty thick, in fields of Indi.an corn, n® 
common in new settlements, I have observed it tn ^ 
very numerous ; and have found its stomach soraetii'^^^ 
completely tilled with that grain. Its voice is | 
than any of the others ; and its usual note “ chow,” ‘'jj 
often reminded me of the barldng- of a little lapdo^- ^ 
is a most exjiert climber, possessing extraordi"'* 'j 
strength in the muscles of its feet and claws, .and 
about the body and horizontal limbs of the trees, " 
equal facility in all directions. It rattles, like the 
of the tribe, on the dead limbs, — and with such viol«*'‘||j 
as to be heard, in still weather, more than h.alf a 
off, — and listens to hear the insects it has alarmed. 
the lower side of some lofty branch that makes a 
derable angle with the horizon, the male and feinalRi^j^ 
oonj unction, dig out a circular cavity for their v<>- 
soraetimes out of the solid wood, but more 
into a hollow limb, twelve or fifteen inches 
where it becomes solid. This is usually pertoi'^’^j.^ 
early in April. The female lays five eggs of a P* 
white, or almost semitransparent; and the young 
rally make their appearance towards the latter 
May, or beginning of June, climbing up to the 
parts of the tree, being as yet unable to fly. I® 
situation they are fed for several days, and o 
become the prey of the hawks. From seeing the 
