PicidjE. BIBDS. PiciDai. clxi 
Reef. It is coiniiioii in tlie West Indies and in 
youtli America as fur soutli as Brazil. Gosse says : 
“It is abundant in Jamaica, and it was universally 
maintained by the inhabitants that these birds unite 
and build in company an immense nest of basket- 
work, made by the united labors of the flock, which 
is said to be placed on a high tree, where many 
parents bring forth and educate a common family.” 
The bird is called the Black Witch in St. Croix — a 
name supposed to be due to its peculiar call-note, 
which sounds like qxie-yuch! They are seen hover- 
ing around cattle and horses, and alight on their 
bodies to pick up the ticks which infest those animals. 
They are often so intent upon securing food that 
they cling to the tails of cattle while they graze, 
and search the long hairs for insects. 
Family — PI 010.30. 
'1'he Woodpeckers. 
IVOKY-BILIED WOODPECKER [GampepMlus prin- 
cipalis). — Of the family Picidm, more than one-half 
of the species belong to the New AVorld. The 
present remarkable species is one of the forms which 
is confined to the extreme Southern States. It is 
not migratory, but resident where found. Audubou 
says of it : “The flight of this bird is graceful in the 
extreme, although seldom prolonged to more than a 
few hundred yards at a time, unless when it has to 
cross a large river, which it does in deep undula- 
tions, opening its wings at first to their full extent, 
and nearly closing them, to renew the propelling im- 
pulse. The transit from one tree to another — even 
should the distance be as much as an hundred yards 
— is performed by a single sweep, and the bird ap- 
pears as if merely swinging itself from the top of the 
one tree to that of the other, forming an elegantly 
curved line. At this moment all the lieanty of the 
plumage is exhibited, and strikes the beholder wit.h 
pleasure. It never utters any sound while on the 
wing, unless during the love season ; but at all other 
times, no sooner has this bird alighted than its re- 
markable voice is heard at almost every leap it 
makes, while ascending against the upper parts of 
the trunk of a tree or its highest branches. Its notes 
are clear, loud and yet rather plaintive. They are 
heard at considerable distance, perhaps half a mile, 
and resemble the false high note of a clarionet. 
They are usually repeated three times in succession, 
and may be rei)resented by the monosyllable pait, 
fait,pait. 'I’hese are heard so frequently, as to in- 
duce me to say that the bird spends few minutes of 
the day without uttering them, and this circumstance 
leads to its destruction. The hole which it bores 
for its nest is, I believe, always made in the trunk of 
a live tree, generally an ash or a hagberry, and is at 
great height. The birds pay great attention to the 
particular situation of the tree, selecting one that is 
inclined, so as to secure the nest against the access of 
water. They show forethought in selecting the space 
immediately under a branch or at the junction of the 
branch with the trunk. It is first bored horizontally 
for a few inches, then directly downwards. It is 
VOL. 1.—®. 
sometimes three feet in depth. 'I'he strength of this 
Woodpecker is so great that I have seen it detach 
pieces of bark seven or eight inches in length at a 
single blow of its powerful bill, and, by beginning at 
the top branch of a dead tree, tear off the bark to 
the extent of twenty or thirty feet in the course of a 
few hours, leaping downwards, with its body in an 
upward position, tossing its liead to the right 
and left, or leaning it against the bark to ascertain 
the precise spot where the grubs were concealed, 
and immediately after renewing its blows with fresh 
vigor, alt the while sounding its loud notes, as if 
highly delighted.” The Ivory-bill is a large bird, 
being twenty-one inches in length, the wing ten 
inches. Wilson says of him: “This majestic and 
formidable species in strength and magnitude stands 
at the head of the whole class of Woodpeckers hith- 
erto discovered. He may be called the chief of his 
tribe, and nature seems to have designed him a 
distinguished characteristic in the superb carmine 
crest and bill of polished ivory, with which she has 
ornamented him. His eye is brilliant and daring, 
and his whole frame so admirably adapted for his 
mode ol lite and method of procuring subsistence, as 
to impress on the mind of the examiner the most 
reverential ideas ol the Creator. His manners have, 
also, a dignity in them superior to the common herd 
of Woodpeckers.” 'I'he cry of this bird is like that 
of a hurt child. Wilson gives an amusing account 
ol one that he had wounded, and was conveying upon 
his horse to Wilmington. His horse became fright- 
ened, and the inhabitants came forth to see what 
produced such human-like cries. 
HAIRY WOODPECKER [Picus villosus). — 'I’his is a 
common visitor in New England in the spring, falj 
and winter months, and is to some extent a residenj 
through the year. It is found as far west as tht 
eastern base ol the Rocky Mountains, and northwan/ 
to British Columbia and Sitka. It is also accidental 
in England. It is less wild and more domestic than 
any other species, and is a familiar resident in our 
orchards during the breeding season. It has a 
strong, shrill and tremulous cry, and also a single 
note, or chuch, which it often repeats in an eager 
manner, as it hops about and digs into the crevices 
ol the trees. 'I’he Hairy Woodpecker is nine inches 
in length, and fifteen in extent of wing. Its flight is, 
like some other species, a curious rising and sink- 
ing alternately. 'I’lie feet are very powerful, made 
to grip strongly the bark of the trees on which it 
searches for insect food. Instances have occurred 
where the bird remained with its claws deeply in- 
serted in the trunk of a tree long after its death" 
HARRIS’ WOODPECKER (R. villosus ^ var. harrisi) 
is a western bird, found south as far as Central 
America. It was first described by Audubon, and is 
considered to be only a variety of the preceding. 
DOWNY WOODPECKER (P. pubescens). —oLned 
also the Lesser Sapsucker. Like the Hairy Wood- 
pecker, it is a resident wherever it is found, and not 
migratory. Its habitat is through Eastern United 
States to the eastern slope ol the Rocky Moun- 
tains, and north into British Columbia. 'I'he nest 
