CAROLINA PARROT.
Bill white. Iris hazel. Bare orbital space whitish. Feet pale
flesh-colour, claws dusky. Fore part of the head and the cheeks bright
scarlet, that colour extending over and behind the eye, the rest of the
head and the neck pure bright yellow; the edge of the wing bright
yellow, spotted with orange. The general colour of the other parts is
emerald-green, with light blue reflections, lighter beneath. Primary
coverts deep bluish-green; secondary coverts greenish-yellow. Quills
bluish-green on the outer web, brownish-red on the inner, the primaries
bright yellow at the base of the outer web. Two middle tail-feathers
deep green, the rest of the same colour externally, their inner webs
brownish-red. Tibial feathers yellow, the lowest deep orange.
Length 14 inches, extent of wings 22 ; bill along the ridge l,1^, gap,
measured from the tip of the lower mandible, ^ ; tarsus middle toe 1£.
Adult Female. Plate XXVI. Fig. 2, 2, 2.
The female is similar to the male in colour. The upper figure represents
a kind of occasional variety, with fourteen tail-feathers. The specimen
from which the drawing was taken was shot at Bayou Sara, in
Louisiana. '
Young Bird. Plate XXVL Fig. 3 .
The young bird is known by the comparative shortness of the tail,
and the uniform green colour of the head.
T H E C O C K L E - B U R.
XANTHIUM STRUMARIUM, Wittd. Sp. PI. vol. iv. p. 3 7 3 . Pursh. Flor. Amer. vol. ii.
p. 581. Smilh, Engl. Fl. vol. iv. p. 136.—MONUSCIA PENTANDRIA, Linn. Co-
RYMBIFERJE, JUSS.
Root fibrous; stem solitary, erect, branched, from three to six feet
high, furrowed, downy ; leaves on long petioles, cordate, lobed, serrate,
scabrous, three-nerved at the base; clusters axillar, of four or five fertile,
and one or two barren flowers, which are green; nuts densely armed,
and furnished with two beaks.
( )
T H E R E D - H E A D E D WOODPECKER.
PlCUS ERYTHROCEPHALUS, LlNN.
PLATE X X V I I . MALE, FEMALE, AND YOUNG.
Y ou have now, kind reader, under consideration a family of Woodpeckers,
the general habits of which are so well known in our United
States, that, were I assured of your having traversed the woods of America,
I should feel disposed to say little about them.
The Red-heads (by which name this species is usually designated) may
be considered as residents of the United States, inasmuch as many of them
remain in the Southern Districts during the whole winter, and breed there
in summer. The greater number, however, pass to countries farther south.
Their migration takes place under night, is commenced in the middle of
September, and continues for a month or six weeks. They then fly very
high above the trees, far apart, like a disbanded army, propelling themselves
by reiterated flaps of the wings, at the end of each successive curve
which they describe in their flight. The note which they emit at this time
is different from the usual one, sharp and easily heard from the ground,
although the birds may be out of sight. This note is continued, as if it
were necessary for keeping the straggling party in good humour. At
dawn of day, the whole alight on the tops of the dead trees about the
plantations, and remain in search of food until the approach of sunset,
when they again, one after another, mount the air, and continue their
journey.
With the exception of the Mocking Bird, I know no species so gay
and frolicksome. Indeed, their whole life is one of pleasure. They find a
superabundance of food everywhere, as well as the best facilities for raising
their broods. The little labour which they perform is itself a source of
enjoyment, for it is undertaken either with an assurance of procuring the
nicest dainties, or for the purpose of excavating a hole for the reception
of themselves, their eggs, or their families. They do not seem to be much
afraid of man, although they have scarcely a more dangerous enemy.
When alighted on a fence-stake by the road, or in a field, and one approaches
them, they gradually move sidewise out of sight, peeping now
and then to discover your intention; and when you are quite close and