. American ornithology, or, The natural history of the birds of the United States [microform]. Wilson, Alexander, 1766-1813; Wilson, Alexander, 1766-1813; Birds; Oiseaux. 176 RED-HEADED WOODPECKER. that season, you hear them screaming from the adjoining woods, rattling on the dead limbs of trees or on the fences, where they are perpetually seen flitting from stake to stake, on the roadside before you. Wherever there is a tree, or trees, of the wild-cherry, covered with ride fruit, there you see them busy ainong the branches; and in passing orchards, you may easily know where to find the earlie
. American ornithology, or, The natural history of the birds of the United States [microform]. Wilson, Alexander, 1766-1813; Wilson, Alexander, 1766-1813; Birds; Oiseaux. 176 RED-HEADED WOODPECKER. that season, you hear them screaming from the adjoining woods, rattling on the dead limbs of trees or on the fences, where they are perpetually seen flitting from stake to stake, on the roadside before you. Wherever there is a tree, or trees, of the wild-cherry, covered with ride fruit, there you see them busy ainong the branches; and in passing orchards, you may easily know where to find the earliest, sweetest apples, by observ- ing those trees, on or near which the Ked-headed Woodpecker is skulk- ing ; for he is so excellent a connoisseur in fruit, that wherever an apple or pear is found broached by him, it is sure to be amongst the ripest and best flavored. When alarmed, he seizes a capital one by striking his open bill deep into it, and bears it off to the woods. When the Indian corn is in its rich, succulent, milky state, he attacks it with great eagerness, opening a passage through the numerous folds of the husk, and feeding on it with voracity. The girdleil, or deadened timber, so common among corn-fields, in the back settlements, are his favorite retreats, whence he sallies out to make his depredations. lie is fond of the ripe berries of the sour gum; and pays pretty regular visits to the cherry- trees, when loaded with fruit. Towards fall, he often approaches the barn, or farm-house, and raps on the shingles and weather-boards. lie is of a gay and frolicksomc disposition; and half a dozen of the frater- nity are frequently seen diving and vociferating around the high dead limbs of some large tree, pursuing and playing with each other, and amusing the passenger with their gambols. Their note or cry is shrill and lively, and so much resembles that of a species of tree frog, which frequents the same tree, that it is sometimes difficult to distinguish the one from th
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Keywords: ., bookcentury1800, bookdecade1870, booksubjectbirds, booksubjectois
