562 
ZYGODACTYLI. 
the Northwest Coast of the continent, as well as round 
Nootka Sound, and in the interior of Canada, near to 
the remote lake of Winnipique. From the great numbers 
seen in the Southern States in winter, it is evident that 
the principal part of the species migrate thither from the 
North and West to pass the inclement season, which nat- 
urally deprives them of the means of acquiring their 
usual sustenance. At this time also they feed much on 
winter berries, such as those of the sumach, smilax, and 
misseltoe. In the Middle States, some of these birds 
find the means of support through the most inclement 
months of the winter. In New England, they reappear 
about the beginning of April, soon after which they com- 
mence to pair and build ; for this purpose they often 
make choice of the trunk of a decayed apple tree, at 
different heights from the ground. When an accidental 
cavity is not conveniently found, confident in the formid- 
able means provided them by nature, with no other aid 
than the bill, they have been known to make a winding bur- 
row through a solid oak for 15 inches in length. At this 
labor, for the greater security and privacy, they continue 
till late in the evening, and may be heard dealing blows 
as loud and successive as if aided by the tools of the car- 
penter. The eggs, about 6, and pure white, are deposit- 
ed merely upon the fragments of wood which line the 
natural or artificial cavity thus forming the nest. This 
cell, before the young are fledged, has a rank and disa- 
greeable smell ; and on inserting the hand into it, the 
brood unite in producing a hissing, like so many hidden 
snakes. They soon escape from this feted den in which 
they are hatched ; and, climbing into the higher branch- 
es of the tree, are there fed until able to fly. In the 
month of March, in Florida and Alabama, I observed 
them already pairing, on which occasion many petulant 
