112. Campephilus principalis Gray. Ivory-billed Woodpecker.—Very rare; I have found it only in the large and dense pine forests in the northern part of Harris County and in Montgomery County far from human habitations. Very shy and not easy to approach.
113. Picus villosus Linn. Hairy Woodpecker.—Frequently seen during winter, but only a few times during the breeding season.
114. Picus scalaris Wagl. Texas Woodpecker.—This beautiful little Woodpecker is quite numerous in all wooded districts; it comes often during winter into the gardens of Houston, and is then very unsuspicious. I can give no particulars about its nesting habits, as I have never found a nest.
115. Picus pubescens Linn. Downy Woodpecker.—Common; breeds in all wooded districts, but is by no means so abundant as I have found it to be in Wisconsin.
116. Picus borealis Vieill. Red-cockaded Woodpecker.—The Picus querulus of Wilson is resident in all the large pine woods; it is very shy, restless, and noisy. The male is very wary during the breeding season, and every pair has its own limited breeding range. I discovered a nest in an old high pine stump, but it was out of reach. These birds are not rare in heavily wooded districts. I never have seen one in the deciduous woods.
117. Sphyropicus varius Bd. Yellow-bellied Woodpecker.—Winter resident from November to March, and then not uncommon. Always seen singly.
118. Hylotomus pileatus Bd. Pileated Woodpecker.—Common resident in all the wooded tracts, in the “post oak” as well as in the bottom and pine forests. A very noisy species; its drumming is almost as loud as that of the Ivory-billed Woodpecker. It is not a shy and retiring species, but, on the contrary, is very often seen near farm houses. Especially abundant where during the previous winter or spring many trees have been cut down; these they search for worms, and very soon have all the bark hammered away from them. They often excavate a hole for their nest in a post oak, in a sycamore, and also in elms, often at a considerable height. The cavity is from 10 to 20 inches deep and so large that a man can easily put his hand into it. The eggs, from four to six, are of a brilliant white color. Only one brood is raised, and the young follow their parents till late in the fall.
119. Centurus carolinus Bonap. Red-bellied Woodpecker.—Another very common Woodpecker. Its loud, harsh croaks, sounding like crirrk, are almost continually to be heard in the woods. Prefers deciduous woods. It is resident throughout the year, and is not shy or of retiring habits, but often visits the larger gardens. In the winter months I have often observed them on the ground searching for insects, but it can not walk as easily as Colaptes auratus. Breeds usually on the borders of woods, and raises only one brood yearly.
120. Melanerpes erythrocephalus Sw. Red-headed Woodpecker.—The most abundant of its family in and near Houston; breeds commonly in the city in sycamores, water and swamp oaks, and in magnolias along Buffalo Bayou. Very confiding and tame; hammers often on houses and stables, on church towers, telegraph posts, etc. Two broods are raised each season. I have seen, late in August, young just from the nest. Once I discovered the nest in a sycamore in a street, about fifteen feet from the ground, the tree standing only a few yards from a house. Resident throughout the year. Many are killed by negro boys with so-called “nigger-shooters,” and not only this species, but also numberless other birds are thus destroyed by them.
121. Colaptes auratus Sw. Golden-winged Woodpecker; “Flicker.”—Rare during the breeding season, abundant in the winter months. Frequently seen in pairs and small companies of from four to ten, and even more. Spends its time during this season mostly on the ground, where it searches for food. The first companies arrive late in October, and they steadily increase in numbers till December, when they are exceedingly abundant. They begin to migrate northward late in February.