576 
ZYGODACTYLI. 
DOWNY WOODPECKER. 
(Picus pubescens, L. Wilson, Am. Orn. i. p. 153. pi. 9. fig 4. [male.] 
Phil. Museum, No. 1986.) 
Sp. Charact. — Varied with black and white ; beneath white ; back 
with long, slender, loose feathers; outer tail-feathers white, with 
four black spots. — Male, with a red occipital band, which in the 
female is black. 
This species, the smallest of American Woodpeckers, 
agrees almost exactly with the preceding in its colors 
and markings. It is likewise resident throughout the 
same countries. About the middle of May also, the pair 
begin to look out a suitable deposit for their eggs and 
young. The entrance is in the form of a perfect circle, 
and only just left large enough for an individual to pass 
in and out. Both sexes labor for about a week at this 
task with indefatigable diligence, carrying on the burrow 
in some orchard tree, in two different directions, to the 
depth of 16 to 20 inches down ; and to prevent suspicion 
they carry out the chips, and strew them at a distance. 
The eggs are about 6, white, and deposited on the smooth 
bottom of the cavity. The male occasionally feeds his 
mate, while sitting ; and about the close of June the 
young are observed abroad, climbing up the tree with 
considerable address. Sometimes the crafty House Wren, 
interferes, and, driving the industrious tenants from their 
hole, usurps the possession. No species can exceed the 
present in industry and perseverance. While thus regu- 
larly probing the bark of the tree for insects, it contin- 
ues so much engaged as to disregard the approaches of 
the observer, though immediately under the tree. These 
perforations, made by our Sap-Suckers, as the present 
and preceding species are sometimes called, are carried 
round the trunks and branches of the orchard trees in 
regular circles, so near to each other, that according to 
