80 P I L E A T E D WOODPECKER.
THE RACOON GRAPE.
VITIS AESTIVALIS, Mich. Flor. Amer. vol. ii. p. 230.—Pursh, Flor. Amer. Sept.
vol. i. p. 169.—PENTANDRIA MONOGYNIA, Linn. VITES, JUSS.
The Racoon Grape is characterized by its broadly-cordate leaves, which
have three or five lobes, its oblong clusters, and the small size of the bluishblack
fruit. It is one of the finest of our vines, in regard to the luxuriance
of its growth, its tortuous stem ascending the tallest trees to their
summit, while its branches spread out so as to entwine the whole top. I
have seen stems that measured eighteen inches in diameter, and the
branches often extended from one tree to another, so as to render it difficult
to pull down a plant after its stem has been cut. Its flowers perfume
the woods. The grapes'are small, hard, and very acrid, until severely bitten
by frost. In autumn and winter, racoons, bears, opossums, and many
species of birds, feed upon them.
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T H E DOWNY WOODPECKER.
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P Í A T E C X I I . MALE AND FEMALE.
THE Downy Woodpecker, which is best known in all parts of the
United States by the name of Sap-sucker, is perhaps not surpassed by any
of its tribe in hardiness, industry, or vivacity. If you watch its motions
while in the woods, the orchard, or the garden, you will find it ever at
work. It perforates the bark of trees with uncommon regularity and
care; and, in my opinion, greatly assists their growth and health, and renders
them also more productive. Few of the farmers, however, agree with
me in this respect; but those who have had experience in the growing of
fruit-trees, and have attended to the effects produced by the boring of this
Woodpecker, will testify to the accuracy of my statement.
This species is met with, during summer, in the depth of the forest,
as well as in the orchard or the garden. In winter it frequently visits
the wood-pile of the farmer, close to his house, or resorts to his corn-crib,
where, however, it does' little damage. I have found it pretty generally
distributed from the lower parts of Louisiana to Labrador, and as far to
the westward as I have travelled. It seems, in fact, to accommodate itself
to circumstances, and to live contented anywhere.
About the middle of April it begins to form its nest, shewing little
care as to the kind of tree it selects for the purpose, although it generally
chooses a sound one, sometimes, however, taking one that is partially decayed.
The pair work together for several days before the hole is completed,
sometimes perhaps a whole week, as they dig it to the depth of a
foot or sixteen inches. The direction is sometimes perpendicularly downwards
from the commencement, sometimes transverse to the tree for four
or five inches, and then longitudinal. The hole is rendered smooth and
conveniently large throughout, the entrance being perfectly round, and
just large enough to admit one bird at a time. The eggs, commonly six
in number, pure white, and translucent, are deposited on the bare wood.
In the Southern and Middle States, two broods are raised in the season;
farther north seldom more than one. The young follow their parents
through the woods, in company with Nuthatches and Creepers, and seem
VOL. II. F