LEWIS S WOODPECKER. 
577 
Wilson, eight or ten of them may be covered by a dollar. 
The object of this curious piece of industry is not satis- 
factorily ascertained, but whether it be done to taste the 
sap of the tree, or to dislodge vermin, it is certain that 
the plant escapes uninjured, and thrives as well, or bet- 
ter than those which are imperforated. 
The Downy Woodpecker is about 6| inches in length, and 12 in 
alar extent. The bill only about f of an inch in length from the 
gape. The plumage very similar to that of the preceding species. 
RED-COCKADED WOODPECKER. 
( Picus querulus, Wilsow, Am. Orn. ii. p. 103. pi. 15. fig. 1. [male.] 
Phil. Museum, No. 2027.) 
Sp. Charact. — Varied with black and white ; the back barred with 
white ; below also white ; with the outer tail-feathers white, spot- 
ted with black. — Male , with a short vermilion-red line on each 
side of the head, wanting in the female. 
This species, remarkable for the red stripe on the side 
of its head, was discovered by Wilson in the pine woods 
of North Carolina, from whence it probably exists to the 
coast of the Mexican Gulph. Its voice resembled the 
chirping of young birds, and had nothing of the sono- 
rous cry of the other Woodpeckers. 
This species is 7^ inches long, and 13 in alar stretch. The back 
barred with about twelve white, curving lines, and as many of black. 
Tail-feathers spotted with black, except the 4 middle ones, which are 
wholly black. The vermilion line on the side of the head seldom 
occupies more than the edge of a single feather. In the female 
this mark is wanting. Iris hazel. 
LEWIS’S WOODPECKER. 
{Picus torquatus , Winsorc, Am. Orn, iii. p. 31. pi. 20. fig. 3. Phil. 
Museum, No. 2020.) 
Sp. Charact. — Black, glossed with green ; front, chin, and cheeks 
dark red ; collar round the neck, and breast, silvery- white ; the 
belly glossy vermilion. 
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