THE YELLOW-BELLIED WOODPECKER. 
263 
The female differs only in having the tints somewhat fainter, the white 
markings on the back smaller, and the yellow of the lower parts duller. 
Length to end of tail inches ; bill along the ridge H ; wing from 
flexure 5/2? tail 3 T V 
THE YELLOW-BELLIED WOODPECKER. 
Picus varius, Linn. 
PLATE CCLXVII. — Male and Female, 
This beautiful species returns to Louisiana and the other Southern States 
about the beginning of October. It remains there during the winter, and 
takes its departure before the beginning of April, after which period I have 
never observed it in these districts. It is seen in Kentucky, and a few 
breed there ; but the greater number return to the middle and especially the 
northern parts of the Union. During the winter months, it associates with 
the Hairy, the Red-bellied, and the Downy Woodpeckers. Its notes, which 
are extremely plaintive, differ widely from those of any other species, and 
are heard at a considerable distance in the woods. 
The Yellow-bellied Woodpecker prefers the interior of the forest during 
spring and summer, seldom showing itself near the habitations of man at 
those seasons. It is a sly and suspicious bird, spending most of its time in 
trees which have close branches and dense foliage. It generally bores its 
nest at a considerable height, and usually in the trunk of an undecayed tree, 
immediately beneath a large branch, and on its southern side. The hole is 
worked out by the male as well as the female, in the manner followed by 
other species, and to the depth of from fifteen to twenty-four inches. The 
aperture is just large enough to admit the birds, but the hole widens gradu- 
ally towards the bottom, where it is large and roomy. The eggs, which are 
from four to six, and pure white, with a slight blush, are deposited on the 
chips without any nest. The young seldom leave the hole until they are 
fully fledged, after which they follow their parents, in a straggling manner, 
until the approach of spring, when the males become shy towards each 
other, and quarrel whenever they meet, frequently erecting the feathers of 
the head and fighting desperately. 
