clxiv Picroa:. BIRDS. PiciDa:. 
is insects, particularly those numerous and destruc- 
no rain falls, and everything is parched.” His obser- 
tive sjjecies that penetrate the bark and body of the 
rations were made in Ajuil, the last of the winter 
tree to deposit their e<r"S and larviE, the latter of 
months, and he found the Woodpeclcers withdrawing 
which are well known to make immense havoc. In- 
food from their depositories, and satisfied himself 
sects form at least two-thirds of his subsistence ; 
that the birds were eating the acorn itself, and not 
and his stomach is scarcely ever found without them. 
diminutive maggots a few of them contained. Dr. 
He searches for them with a dexterity and intelli- 
Brewer, in commenting on this curious habit {North 
gence, I may safely say, more than human ; he per- 
American Birds, ml. ii., p. says: “ 'I'heie are 
ceives by the exterior appearance of the bark where 
several remarkable features to be noticed in the facts 
they lurk below. AVhen he is dubious, he rattles vehe- 
observed by yaussure — the provident instinct which 
mently on the outside with his bill, and his acute ear 
prompts this bird to lay by stores of provisions for 
distinguishes the terrified vermin shrinking' within to 
t he winter ; the great distance traversed to collect a 
their utmost retreats, where his pointed and barbed 
kind of food so unusual for its race ; and its seek- 
tongue soon reaches them. 'Die masses of bugs. 
ing, in a spot so remote from its natural abode, a 
caterpillars, and other larvae, which I have taken 
storehouse so remarkable. Can instinct alone teach. 
from the stomachs of these birds, have often sur- 
or have experience and reason taught these birds 
prised me.” 
that, better far than the bark of trees, or cracks in 
CALIFORNIA WOODPECKER {Melunerpes formici- 
rocks, or cavities dug in the earth, or any other 
wrus). — Confined to the Pacific Coast region of the 
known hiding-place, are these hidden cavities within 
United States and Northern Mexico. “A striking 
the hollow stems of distant plants? What first 
characteristic of this bird,” says Ur. Cones, “ is the 
taught them how to break through the flinty cover- 
extraordinary dilFerences in the color of the iris, 
ings of these retreats? By what revelation could 
which varies from white to red, blue, yellow, ochra- 
these birds have been informed that within these 
ceous or brown.” Dr. Ileerinan describes tliis as 
dry and closed stalks they could, by searching, find 
one of the noisiest, as well as the most abundant, of 
suitable places, j)rotected from moisture, for preserv- 
the Woodpeckers of California. He speaks of it as 
ing their stores in a state most favorable for their 
catching insects on the wing, after the manner of 
long preservation, safe from gnawing rats and from 
a Fly-catcher, and mentions its very extraordinary 
those acorn-eating birds whose bills are not strong 
habit of digging small holes in the bark of the pine 
or shai'}) enough to cut through their tough enclose- 
and the oak, in wliich it stores acorns for its food in 
ures ?” M. Sumichrast, who enjoyed excellent oppor- 
winter. One of these acorns is placed in each hole, 
tunities for observing these birds, states that they 
and is so tightly fitted in, that it is with difficulty 
also pierce the oak trees and deposit the acorns 
extracted. The bark of a large pine will j)resent the 
within the holes thus made, driving them forcilily 
appearance of being closely studded with brass nails. 
into the cavity. Several very large and interesting 
the heads only being visible. Saussure speaks of 
specimens of oak, from California, quite filled with 
a species of Woodpecker, which he supposes to be 
acorns, are in the American Museum, New York. 
Colaptes mexicanoides, storing up acorns in the 
THE NARRO'W-FRONTED "WOODPECKER [Melan- 
hollow stems of the maguey plants. 'I’he birds were 
erpes formieimrus ; var’. angiistifrons). — This is a 
seen to fly at first to the stalks of the maguey, and to 
variety of the last-mentioned species, found at Cape 
attack them with their beaks, and then pass to the 
St. Lucas by Mr. .Tohn Xantus. It is smaller, and has 
yuccas, and there repeat their labors. 'I'hese stalks. 
diffei'ent markings, which are found to be constant. 
upon examination, were all found to be liddled with 
FLICKER {Colaptes auratus ). — This elegant bird 
holes, placed irregularly one above another, and com- 
is a very common summer iidiabitant in New Eng- 
manicaling with the hollow cavity within. On cut- 
land, where it is called Golden-winged Woodpkckek, 
ting open one of these stalks, he found it filled with 
It is also named, in other parts of the country. High- 
acorns. 'I'he central cavity is only large enough to 
HOLDER, Pigeon Woodpecker, etc. It inhabits all of 
receive one acorn at a time. They are packed in. 
Eastern North America to the eastern slope of the 
one above the other, until the cavil, y is filled. 'I’he 
Rocky Mountains. It is the most abundant of all 
intelligent instinct that enables this bird to solve 
the Woodpeckers in New England, and is found 
the ])roblem of using these storehouses, Saussure 
throughout the whole year in the southern part. 
regarded as not the least surprising feature. It 
In Massachusetts it is often met with in midwinter, 
pierces the stalk low down, and introduces the 
even when the season is severe. xAudiibon gives a 
acorns until the ca,vity is filled ; it then bores another 
pleasant account of its habits: “'I'heir note is mer- 
hole just above, in the next joint, and so continues 
riment itself, as it imitates a prolonged and jovial 
until the stalk is quite loaded. Mount Fizarro, where 
laugh heard at considerable distance. Several males 
this habit was observed, is in the midst of a barren 
pursue a female, reach her, and, to prove the force 
desert of sand and volcanic debris. 'I'here are no 
and truth of their love, bow their heads, S|)read their 
oak trees nearer than the Cordilleras, thirty miles 
tails, and move sidewise, backwards and forwards. 
distant, and therefore the collecting and storing of 
performing such antics as might induce any one wit- 
each acorn required a flight of .sixty miles. “ This is 
nessing them, if not of a most morose temper, to 
obviously an instinctive prepai'ation,” says Saussure. 
join his laugh to theirs. The female flies to another 
•‘on the part of these birds, to provide the means of 
tree, where she is closely followed by one, two, or 
supporting life during the arid winter months, when 
even a half a dozen of these gay suitors, and where 
