V. FAMILY PICID2E, (THE WOODPECKER).
Genus Pious. Hairy woodpecker. Resident, common; insectivorous; feeds on the laryte of insects and on the insects themselves; although in autumn it seeks berries, etc. Downy woodpecker. Resident, common: insectivo rous ; habit:send food similar. Red-cockaded woodpecker. Accidental; very rare; insectivorous; habits similar. These are highly useful birds in destroying worms and insects which lodge under dead bark and in rotten wood. Some of these birds have a singul it habit, the purpose of which is not well understood, of punet ring the smooth, thin bark of orchard trees in regular circles, so near to each other that eight or ten of them may be covered by a dollar. This has obtained for them the common name of sap-sucker-. They even puncture resinous trees in the same mauner.
Genus Sphyropicus. Yellow-bellied woodpecker. Resi dent, rarely seen during summer; insectivorous; secluded in the forest. Its food consists of wood-worms and beetles, to which it adds small grapes and berries.
Genus Rylotornus. Pileated woodpecker. Resident, but now almost extinct; insectivorous. This shy bird feeds, like its congeners, on the beetles, and their larvae, which always abound among dead and decaying timber.
If these fail, he resorts to acorns, nuts, and berries.
Genus Centur us. Red-hellied woodpecker. Resident, frequent; rare in summer; insectivorous; feeds on various kinds of insects and larva;, and on berries, etc., In the manner of its yellow-bellied cousin.
Genus Melanerpes. Redheaded woodpecker. Resident, very common; insectivorous. This elegant and familiar species is extremely expert in finding and catching the in-ects which conceal themselves bene•ith the hark of trees. He also eats juicy, fruits and berries, as well as the ripening corn. The farmer often thinks that be takes more in cherries and garden fruits than his services are worth.
Genus Colaples. Golden-winged woodpecker. Resi dent, common; rare in winter; insectivorous; feeds on insects, wood-lice, ants, etc., with cherries, various berries, and even corn. The farmer, forgetting his past services, and only remembering his present faults, closes his career with the gun, and unthinkingly does to himself and the public an essential injury. (Nutt.)