RED-BELLIED WOODPECKER. 
113 
RED-BELLIED WOODPECKER. — PICUS CAROLINUS. 
Plate VII. Fig. 2. 
Pious Caroliims, Linn. Syst. i. 174, 10 — Pic varie de la Jamaique, Buffon , vii. 72. 
PL enl. 597. — Picus varius medius Jamaicensis, Sloan. Jam. 299, 15. — Jamaica 
Woodpecker, JEdw. 244 Cates, i. 19, fig. 2. — Arct. Zool. ii. No. 161. — Lath. 
Syn. ii. 570, 17. Id. 571. 17. a. Id. — L’Epeiche raye de la Louisiane, Buff. 
vii. 73. PI. enl. 692. — Peak's Museum , No. 1944. 
COLAPTES CAROLINUS. — Swainson. 
Picus Carolinus, Bonap. Synop. p. 45. — Picus erythrauchen, Wagl. Syst. Av. 
No. 38. 
This species possesses all the restless and noisy habits so 
characteristic of its tribe. It is more shy and less domestic 
than the red-headed one, ( P . erythrocephalus ,) or any of the 
other spotted Woodpeckers. It is also more solitary. It 
prefers the largest, high-timbered woods, and tallest decayed 
trees of the forest ; seldom appearing near the ground, on the 
fences, or in orchards, or open fields; yet where the trees 
have been deadened, and stand pretty thick, in fields of 
Indian corn, as is common in new settlements, I have 
observed it to be very numerous ; and have found its stomach 
sometimes completely filled with that grain.* Its voice is 
hoarser than any of the others ; and its usual note “ chow,” 
* This species will also range in the genus Colaptes, hut will present a 
more aberrant form. In it we have the compressed and slightly bent shape 
of the bill, becoming stronger and more angular ; we have the barred plumage 
of the upper parts, but that of the head is uniform and only slightly elongated 
behind ; and in the wings and tail the shafts of the quills lose their strength and 
beautiful colour. In Wilson’s description of the habits, we also find them 
agreeing with the modifications of form. It prefers the more solitary recesses 
of lofty forests ; and, though capable of turning and twisting, and possessing a 
great part of the activity of the Nuthatch and Titmice, it seldom appears about 
orchards or upon the ground ; yet it occasionally visits the corn fields, and feeds 
on the grain ; and, as remarked above, is “ capable of subsisting on coarser and 
more various fare.” These modifications of habit we shall always find in unison 
with the structure ; and we cannot too much admire the wisdom that has thus 
mutually adapted them to the various offices they are destined to fill En. 
VOL. I. H 
