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THE GOLDEN-WINGED WOODPECKER. 
the sides of the neck black ; a band of dull white runs over the hind neck, 
and is continuous anteriorly with a large patch of reddish-white occupying 
the fore neck and part of the breast, the rest of the breast and the sides 
are rose-red, becoming of a deeper tint backwards ; the lower wing-coverts, 
abdomen, and lower tail-coverts black. 
Length to end of tail 11 inches; bill along the ridge l, 2 ^ ; wingTrom 
flexure 7 r V ; tail 41 ; tarsus 1 ^ ; hind toe ft-, its claw ; second toe T 7 2 , its 
claw -j%; third toe If, its claw f|; fourth toe f £, its claw 
Adult Female. 
The female resembles the male, being scarcely distinguishable by her 
slightly duller tints, and the less extent of the red on the fore part of the 
head. A young bird obtained in September, has the bill quite pointed, the 
red on the head scarcely apparent, that on the lower parts intermixed with 
greyish-white, the fore part of the neck dull grey, and the white ring on the 
hind neck wanting; many of the feathers there, however, having one or 
two white spots near the end. 
THE GOLDEN - WINGED WOODPECKER. 
Picus auratus, Linn. 
PLATE CCLXXIII. — Wale and Females. 
It is generally agreeable to be in the company of individuals who are 
naturally animated and pleasant. For this reason, nothing can be more 
gratifying than the Society of Woodpeckers in the forests. To prove this 
to yon, kind reader, I shall give you a full account of the habits of the 
Golden-winged Woodpecker. 
This species, which is usually called Pique-bois jaune by the French 
settlers in Louisiana, and receives the name of High-holder, Yucker, and 
Flicker in other parts of the Union, being seldom or never graced with the 
epithet Golden-winged , employed by naturalists, is one of the most lively of 
our birds, and is found over the whole of the United States. 
No sooner has spring called them to the pleasant duty of making love, as 
it is called, than their voice, which, by the way, is not at all disagreeable to 
the ear of man, is heard from the tops of high decayed trees, proclaiming 
with delight the opening of the welcome season. Their note at this period 
