FLICKER, OR GOLDEN-WINGED WOODPECKER. 563 
quarrels daily ensued, from a host of rival suitors, accom- 
companied by their ordinary cackling and squealing. One 
of their usual complaisant recognitions, often delivered 
on a fine morning, from the summit of some lofty dead 
limb, is ’wit a ’wit ’wit ’wit ’wit ’ wit ’ wit weel , and woit 
a woit , woit woit woit woit, commencing loud, and slow- 
ly rising and quickening till the tones run together into 
a noise almost like that of a watchman’s rattle. They 
have also a sort of complaining call, from which they 
have probably derived their name of pee ill, pee ilt ; and 
at times a plaintive quedh quedh. Occasionally they 
also utter in a squealing tone, when surprised, or engag- 
ed in amusing rivalry with their fellows, wee-cogh wee - 
cdgh wee-cogh , or weecxip toeecup. 
The food of this species varies with the season ; they 
are at all times exceedingly fond of woodlice, ants, and 
their larvae ; and as the fruits become mature, they also 
add to their ample fare, common cherries, bird cherries, 
winter grapes, gum berries, those of the red-cedar, as 
well as of the sumach, smilax,*and other kinds. As the 
maize too ripens, while yet in the milky state, the Flicker 
pays frequent visits to the field, and the farmer, readily 
forgetful of his past services, only remembers his present 
faults, and, closing his career with the gun, unthinkingly 
does to himself and the public an essential injury, in 
saving a few unimportant ears of corn. In this part of 
New England they are known by the name of Pigeon 
Woodpeckers from their general bulk and appearance; 
and, to the disgrace of our paltry fowlers, they are, in the 
autumn, but too frequently seen exposed for sale in the 
markets, though their flesh is neither fat nor delicate. 
It is exceedingly to be regretted that ignorance and wan- 
Particularly those of S. laurifolia. 
