NATURAL SCIENCES OF PHILADELPHIA. 109 



Family PICID.E. 



Melanerpes erythrocephalus, Sw. 



This beautiful species is of rave occurrence in tlie vicinit}^ of 

 Pliiladelphia during tlie breeding season. It is more abundant, 

 however, farther west. In the counties of Union and Northum- 

 berland, of the State of Pennsylvania, the writer has observed it 

 in great numbers. There it is the principal species, as Golaptes 

 au7-atus, Swainson, is in the east. It arrives seldom earlier than 

 the first week in Maj', and soon begins to excavate a cavity in a 

 tree for its nest. The place selected is ordinarily' an apple tree 

 close by the habitation of man, but occasionally a more secluded 

 and retired spot. The writer has often observed the nests in the 

 hollows of partially decaj^ed willows upon the margins of ponds. 

 The cavity ranges from ten to twelve inches in depth, being some- 

 what wider at the bottom than at the entrance ; the latter being 

 just wide enough to admit the body of the bird. Dr. Thompson, 

 in his work entitled "Birds of Vermont," affirms that " the larger 

 end of the egg is marked with reddish spots." This variety I 

 have never observed. It may be an exceptional occurrence in 

 more northern latitudes. From Samuels' description of the site 

 selected for nidiflcation, it would seem that this species is of a 

 timid nature. Familiarit}' with its habits has convinced me that 

 it is remarkablj" unsuspicious, and courts rather than shuns the 

 society of man. In the month of August, not later than the 10th, 

 in the central part of this State, the writer has seen immense flocks 

 of this bird, numbering hundreds, within an apple orchard, tap- 

 ping the rough and fissured bark of the trees in quest of the insects 

 that lurk therein. So tame and confiding were they, that it was 

 possible to approach within a few paces of them without exciting 

 suspicion or creating alarm. In the vicinity of the White Deer 

 Mountains, in the count}^ of TJnion, they abound in immense num- 

 bers during the breeding season, and are the objects of protection 

 by the farmers, for the good which they accomplish in the destruc- 

 tion of m^'riads of insects. The period of incubation ranges from 

 fourteen to fifteen days. The usual complement of eggs is two, 

 occasionally three have been found. 



