518 SNOW BUNTING.
which colour are the other feathers, all being tipped and edged with
whitish ; upper tail-coverts brownish-black, with a large white tip.
Length 7 inches, extent of wings 13; bill along the back nearly^
along the edge T \ ; tarsus T
9 |.
Young bird in winter. Plate CLXXXIX. Fig. 3.
The young bird in autumn and winter has the bill of a more rufous tint,
the legs dusky brown, the head deep reddish-brown tinged with grey, a
rufous band across the fore part of the breast, the back streaked with
blackish-brown and light red ; the wing coverts dark coloured, and the
white of the quills less extended. On the lower parts the white is also less
pure.
( 519 )
T H E Y E L L O W - B E L L I E D W O O D P E C K E R .
Picus VARIUS, LINN.
P L A T E CXC. MALE AND FEMALE.
Tins beautiful species returns to Louisiana and the other Southern
States, about the beginning of October. It remains there during the
winter, and takes its departure before the beginning of April, after which
period I have never observed it in these districts. It is seen in Kentucky,
and a few breed there ; but the greater number return to the middle
and especially the northern parts of the Union. During the winter
months, it associates with the Hairy, the Red-bellied, and the Downy
Woodpeckers. Its notes, which are extremely plaintive, differ widely
from those of any other species, and are heard at a considerable distance in
the woods
The Yellow-bellied Woodpecker prefers the interior of the forest during
spring and summer, seldom shewing itself near the habitations of
man at those seasons. It is a sly and suspicious bird, spending most of
its time in trees which have close branches and dense foliage. It generally
bores its nest at a considerable height, and usually in the trunk of
an undecayed tree, immediately beneath a large branch, and on its southern
side. The hole is worked out by the male as well as the female, in
the manner followed by other species, and to the depth of from fifteen to
twenty-four inches. The aperture is just large enough to admit the
birds, but the hole widens gradually towards the bottom, where it is large
and roomy. The eggs, which are from four to six, and pure white, with
a slight blush, are deposited on the chips without any nest. The young
seldom leave the hole until they are fully fledged, after which they follow
their parents, in a straggling manner, until the approach of spring, when
the males become shy towards each other, and quarrel whenever they
meet, frequently erecting the feathers of the head and fighting desperately.
They fly through the woods with rapidity, in short undulations, seldom
going farther at a time than from one tree to another. I never observed
one of these birds on the ground. Their food consists of woodworms
and beetles, to which they add small grapes and various berries du