But the Count is not the only European who has misrepresented and traduced this beautiful bird. One has given him brown legs, another a yellow neck;t a third has declared him a cuckoo,‡ and in an English translation of Linnæus, lately published, he is characterised as follows" Body striped with black and gray, cheeks red, chin black, never climbs on trees, &c."§ which is about as correct as if in describing the human species we should say-skin striped with black and green, cheeks blue, chin orange, never walks on foot, &c. The pages of natural history should resemble a faithful mirror, in which mankind may recognise the true images of living originals; instead of which we too often find this department resembling the hazy medium of wretched windowglass, through whose crooked protuberances every object appears so strangely distorted, that we scarcely know our most intimate neighbours and acquaintances.

The Gold-winged Woodpecker has the back and wings above, of a dark umber, transversely marked with equi-distant streaks of black, upper parts of the head an iron gray, cheeks and parts surrounding the eyes a fine cinnamon colour; from the lower mandible a stripe of black, an inch in length, passes down each side of the throat, and a lunated spot of a vivid blood red, covers the back of the head, its points reaching within half an inch of each eye; the sides of the neck, below this, incline to a blueish gray; throat and chin a very light cinnamon or fawn color; the breast is ornamented with a beautiful crescent of deep black; the belly and vent, white, tinged with yellow and scattered with innumerable round spots of black, every feather having a distinct central spot, those on the thighs and vent, being heart-shaped and largest. The lower or inner side of the wing and tail, the shafts of the larger feathers, and indeed of almost every feather are of a beautiful golden yellow, that on the shafts of the primaries being very distinguishable even when the wings are shut. The rump is white, and remarkably prominent. The tail coverts white, and curiously serrated with black; upper side of the tail and tip below, black, edged with light loose filaments of a cream color, the two middle ones

* See Encyc. Brit. Art. Picus. † Latham ‡Klein. § “ P. grisen nigroque transversim striatus”- -“ truncos arborum non scandit." Id. Orn. v I. p. 242.

nearly wholly so. Bill, an inch and a half long, of a dusky horn color, somewhat bent, ridged only on the top, tapering, but not to a point, being a little wedge-formed. Legs and feet light blue; iris hazel. Length twelve inches, extent, twenty. The female differs from the male chiefly in the greater obscurity of the fine colors, and in wanting the black mustaches on each side of the throat. This description was taken from a very beautiful and perfect specimen.

Although this species is, generally speaking, migratory, yet they often remain with us in Pennsylvania, during the winter. They also inhabit the continent from Hudson's Bay to Georgia, and have been found on the north west coast of America.

They arrive at Hudson's Bay in April, and leave it in September. Mr. Hearne, however, informs us, that the Gold-winged Woodpecker is almost the only species of Woodpecker that winters at Hudson's Bay. The natives there call it Ou-thee-quan-norow, from the golden color of the shafts and lower side of the wings. It has numerous provincial appellations in the different states of the Union, such as "High hole," from the situation of its nest, "Hittock,” “Yucker” « Piut" "Flicker" by which last it is usually known in Pennsylvania. These names have probably originated in a fancied resemblance of its notes to the sound of the words, for one of its most common cries consists of two notes or syllables frequently repeated, which with the help of the hearer's imagination may easily be made to resemble each or all of them.

FOR THE PORT FOLIO.

ART. XVI.-The Bridge over a part of the Delaware, at Philadelphia.

[With an Engraving.]

NOTWITHSTANDING the opposition which interest and prejudice excited against this noble enterprize, the legislatures of New Jersey and Pennsylvania have granted permission to erect a bridge from the Jersey shore to the island opposite to this city. The arguments employed to defeat the plans of Messrs. Farrand and Sharp are few and feeble. It has been objected, in the first place, that they propose to build but a half-way bridge, which will not

obviate the necessity of a ferry; and it is added that if a traveller once gets into a boat, it is not material to him how far he is to be conveyed in that manner. As the ferries are at present, the distance run by the boats from Market-street to the opposite shore is 8750 feet, or about 1 miles, by the usual course round the old wreck at the north end of the bar; and 10,200 feet, or two miles, if they go round the south end of the island. From our wharf to the island, the distance is less than 900 feet, and from the city wharves to the Jersey shore, it is nearly 4000 feet. Thus the distance will be a-bridged nearly 11-12 ths of the water navigation round the island. The serious difficulties arising from running aground, which so frequently occurs, and the imminent danger and loss of lives during the winter, will be entirely avoided. But it is not necessary to enlarge upon this head, because the bridge cannot supersede the use of the boats, until experience shall have convinced the public that it offers a preferable mode of crossing the river. Until that fact shall be clearly demonstrated, the boats will continue to ply, and every person may select the conveyance which he prefers.

It is further objected, that the bridge, by obstructing the stream, may create bars in the main channel, on this side of the island, and thus become injurious to the navigation of the port. This is really too ridiculous for grave refutation. On the other side of the island, the water is shallow and it flows at the rate of 13 knots or miles an hour. On this, which is the main ship channel, the rate is S knots. A sluggish, shallow stream is to force obstructions into one which is deep, strong and rapid!

Again, it is said that the city side of the island will be wharfed out, so as to narrow the passage of the water in the main channel. The port-wardens to whom the regulation of wharves is confided, by act of assembly, can obviate this objection without any difficulty.

We throw out of view, as unworthy of consideration, the paltry argument, that the projectors of this important enterprize are actuated by motives of self-interest. What public undertaking among us has ever been achieved, without touching this chord? Let it be demonstrated that the proposed canal to connect the Chesapeake and Delaware, will yield 6 per cent to the stockholders, and that project will not be suffered to sleep in the Philosophical Society a

single day. It is a strong proof of the correct judgment of Messrs. Farrand and Sharp, in this measure, that it received the approbation of nearly all the constituted authorities of the city and county of Philadelphia, besides a fair proportion of our most respectable individuals. To this weight of authority is to be added the Legislature, composed chiefly of persons who may be called practical men on subjects of this nature. It would be a difficult matter to persuade such intelligent minds that a bridge at Philadelphia would produce any effects against the course of nature, notwithstanding all the clamour which might be excited, in order to produce such a belief.

The Board of Directors have published a report, by which it appears that the cost of the bridge, boats, tavern, stables, 4 acres of ground on the island, &c. &c. will be $140,000; and they estimate, from satisfactory documents, the present annual income from all the ferries, at about $56,000.

No positive opinion can be formed as to the proportion of this income, which may remain with the boats if the bridge should be erected. The owners of some of them do not hesitate to admit that their business would be destroyed entirely, and they offer to join the Bridge Company on equitable terms. No one will deny that in winter and at all times when the weather is inclement, travellers will prefer that mode of crossing which keeps them not more than one minute on the water. Against such an advantage, the ferry boats cannot long contend, and if the whole of the business should fall into the hands of the Bridge Company, the stock would become incalculably valuable.

We conclude, therefore, by warmly recommending to the patronage of individuals, a measure which has been so powerfully sanctioned by all the public authorities. Instead of joining in the senseless clamour which it has created, we think the projectors entitled to all praise for the zeal and perseverance with which they have prosecuted this scheme.

ART. XVII.-Poetry.

VERSES ON BURNS' PUNCH-BOWL.

Written extempore, at the house of RB Esq. by one of the gentlemen present, when BURNS's Punch-Bowl, (after dinner,) was introduced, full primed with excellent whiskey-toddy. Thou bonie, tosh, wee, modest bowl,

When wayward fate would dare to scowl,
How aft thou's cheer'd Burns' drooping soul,
When prim'd wi' nappy,

Round him and thee care then might growl,
But he was happy.

Though death, felonious, snatch'd away

He's drawn us round thee,-now we'll drown
A' care-encore!

Sae fill the glass, but e'er we pree,

Round this dear relic reverently,

We'll brighten Scotland's downcast e'e,

For sair she mourns,

And toast thy honoured memory

Immortal BURNS!

STANZAS,

BY MRS. MORTON, OF MASSACHUSETTS.

I like it is my choice to live unseen,—

Unsought by all whom busy eyes admire;