VOL. Iv. ] Random Bird-Notes. 177 
I saw three of the white-headed woodpecker (Xenopicus 
albolarvatus). In the dead top of a pine stump some fourteen 
feet from the ground was a nest of a pair of these birds. After 
rapping on the stump I could hear the young squeakers calling 
for their parents. I watched the old birds for an hour or more 
collecting insects from the bark of the different evergreens to 
feed the ever hungry young ones. They always began at the 
lower part of the tree and gradually worked upward, zig-zagging 
around the tree to the top, then flying downward to the base of 
another tree. It would take at least half an hour before seeming 
to have enough insects to carry to the young. I supposed the 
birds to be gathering ants and larvee of bark insects. It was the 
delight of one of this pair of woodpeckers to fly to a certain fir 
tree and have a pair of Louisiana tanagers (Pivanga ludoviciana) 
chase it around the tree. I have no doubt but that the tanagers 
had a nest in the tree. While camped in the grove I saw five of 
these tanagers. 
I noticed only two of the red-breasted sapsucker (Sphyrapicus 
ruber). One I watched every morning from my tent fly to the 
top of a tall burnt tree and rap its roll-call as a kind of 
warning may be to the flying insects. It would then sail out 
like a flycatcher, catch an insect, and return to the burnt tree- 
top. Its movements were very graceful and regular. As it 
dipped or circled around for this or that insect the sunlight 
catching on the red breast lit it up like a patch of flame. 
The Californian woodpecker (Melanerpes formicivorus bairdt) 
was not uncommon. Harris’ woodpecker (Dryobates villosus 
harrisst?) was the only other species of Picidz noted in the 
grove besides the red-shafted flicker (Co/aptes cafer). 
The blue-fronted jay (Cyanocitta stelleri frontalis) was twice 
seen, but was very shy and quiet, no doubt nesting. 
The California purple finch (Carpodacus purpureus californt-. 
cus) was observed several times, but had not paired off. 
Juncos (Junco hyemalis thurberi) were in pairs, but not 
common. 
One thick-billed sparrow (Passerella tliaca megarhyncha) was 
noted, seeming to have only arrived, as I found them common 
later above the Yosemite Valley. 
