Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1879-06-04

we have described in having but three
toes instead Of four. There is similar
three-toed species which should be occa
sionally found in Vermont. though it Is
very rare in New England. This has
white lines on the back and like the other
is an arctic species. only occasionally and
in summer wandering southwark into the
United States, but so far AS | know 1t has
never been seen here. A very common
species is the red headed woodpecker,
NelanerpeS erythrOcphdluS. The bright
contrasting Golors of this brd-its crimson
head and neck. glossy blue-back back and
pure white underparts distinguish it from
my other bird and renders /. conspicu
GUS object whenever seen. 1t is widely
distributed over the United States and II
more often seen in orchards than many
other species. though perhaps not us com.
mon rs the downy woOdpecker or tn
yellow-shafted flicker. The nest is dug
from foot to Il foot and a half deep In al
Ipple tree sometimes, and at others in II
forest tree. 1t is usually more abundant
near streams or other bodies of water
Than elsewhere. 1t is more migratory IL
is habits than some of the wOudpeckcrs ;
never, believe, remaining with us all
winter, but migrating to the south at the
approach of cold weather. This bird il
very fond of fruit of all sorts, and knows
we'll how to select the ripest and best
favored; it also sometimes breaks through
lie husks of partly ripe corn and enjoys
he milky kernels; it is very fond of wild
cherries. Because of this tendency 10 de
your fruit the red -headed woodpecker is al
,bundant, but notwithstanding this it is
ESSENTIALLY insecIivorous in its diet and
,ugs ard worms constitute by far the
greater portion of its food In corrobora
ion of this statement | wish to quote the
| following from Wilson: The masses OF
bugs, c;lterpillars and other larvae which !
nave taken from the stomachs of these
birds, have often surprised me. These
arve feed not only ON tie buds, Leaves
md blossoms, but on the very vegetable
life of the tree, the newly, forming bark
! md wood the consequence is that whole
branches and whole trees decay, under
he silent rava9es of these destructive
vermin. Will any one say that taking hall
II dozen or half hundred apples from a
>ree is equally ruinous with cutting il
lown? or that the services of useful
animal should not be rewarded with Il
small portion of that which it has contrib
uted to preserve? We are told in the
benevolent language Of Scripture not tC
muzzIe the mouth of the OK that treadet
out the corn; and why should not the
same generous liberality be extended tt
this useful family of birds, which forms sc
powerful Il phalanx against the inroads O
many millions of destructive vermin?"
Mr.. Paine, us quoted by DR.. Brewer
says that on the east side Of the mountain.
lhs species is very rare, but it is more
common along the western border of The
slate. l have, however, nowhere in Yer
mont seen it as abundant rs have farther
west. 1t is II very active bird in its habits
and its behavior during courtship is eX
tremely ludicrous. Snakes sometimes
make their way up the tree containing t
woodpecker's nest and entering it devoul
such eggs or young as they may find, and
rs the nest makes u very comfortable
abode for the reptile, it may remain coie(
up in it for several days. More than one
would-be nest-robber has thrust his hant
into woodpecker's nest, and Selling wha
he supposed TO be u young bird, has drawn
out, to his amnzement, if not terror, til,
robber who had secured the treasure be
fore him. Where the black snake occur,
it often seeks the nest of the red-headec
woodpecker.
There is IA species of woodpecker abund
ant in California closely allied to the above
which has very interesting habit o
storing up acorns, as is supposed, for fooC
at times when its ordinary food is scarce
or wanting. II eXcavates II hole in ;
branch just large enough to admit ~
acorn, which it crowds in so tightly that i
is difficult to remove it, then by the side o
this it places Sanother and then another
and so on until the branch is completely
studded with the acorns. A Mexican
species has the similar habit of storing
acorns in hollow stalks of the century
plant This habit is so peculiar. especially
in birds of the nature of woodperkers
that have mentioned it although neither
of the birds are ever found away from tn,
regions given above. The golden-winge,
and yellow-bellied woodpeckers will b'
considered in my next paper.
University of Vermont, May %, 1879.