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his brilliant plumage a long distance away, and his not very musical 
notes are far reaching. 
Again, we find the Flicker. I know of no other bird that en¬ 
joys so many local names, such as, High Hole, Wake Up, Harry 
Wicket, Yellow Jay, Pigeon Woodpecker, Golden Wing, etc. 
During a little thaw, we may find him hunting grubs on the 
ground at a distance from any woods, but usually convenient to 
some large oak tree. He has long ago learned to be on the alert, 
and while we are a long way off we may catch first, the white 
flash of the feathers on his rump as he springs from the ground, 
and then the glitter of the golden color, spread all over the under¬ 
side of his wings and tail, as he flies swiftly to a perch of obser¬ 
vation on the friendly oak, ready to leave that at once if we at¬ 
tempt any further acquaintance. 
With a steady, somewhat labored flight, the Crows, from their 
size and color, are pronounced against a winter landscape. Of 
course they are plenty in Rhode Island, for while grain, insects 
and grubs are eagerly eaten, they obtain an abundance of food 
along our water fronts in the way of mollusks and dead fish. 
Our national emblem, the Bald Eagle, makes us now and then 
a passing visit particularly in winter. During the past season a 
pair located somewhere about the Seekonk River in East Provi¬ 
dence, while a good specimen in the young plumage was received 
from Charlestown beach in November, 1886. This bird must be 
at least three years old before he rejoices in the white head and 
tail; specimens taken in Rhode Island usually have the dark and 
mottled plumage of the young bird. Mr. Newton Dexter killed 
an adult in Warwick, about 25 years since. 
And now I am able to report the capture at Westerly, about 
the 17th of February this year, by Mr. J. B. Chapman, of the 
Golden Eagle, the first recorded instance. It is possible that 
others have been captured and thrown away, as the plumage in 
general appearance, is almost identical with that of the young 
Bald Eagle ; the principal and clearly distinguishing mark is that 
the feathers on the legs of this bird grow down to the opening of 
the toes, while those of the Bald Eagle stop at the heel. 
Owls are always present with 11s and I enumerate for Rhode 
Island ten species, known popularly by the names of Cat Owls 
