168 LOG COCK AND LEWIS' WOODPECKER. 



often seen, and difficult to obtain from its shy 

 habits, always hiding in the dark pine-forests, 

 the silence of which is often broken by the tre- 

 mendous noise this bird makes, rapping on the 

 dead trees. It has a wide range common east 

 and west of the Cascades, and on the west slope 

 of the Rocky Mountains ; I have seen it north as 

 far as Fort Rupert (Vancouver Island), and south 

 through Oregon and California. Whether they 

 migrate south I do not know, but I obtained them 

 at Colville during the winter. Nests in May, 

 generally in a tall dead pine-tree at a great 

 height. 



LEWIS' WOODPECKER (Melanerpes torquatus, 

 Bonap.). Not found, as far as I know, west of the 

 Cascades, but is very abundant between the 

 Cascades and the Rocky Mountains ; it here 

 frequents the open timber. Its habits and modes 

 of flight are not the least like a woodpecker's ; it 

 flies with a heavy flapping motion, much like a 

 jay, feeds a great deal on the ground, and chases 

 insects on the wing like a shrike or king- 

 bird. Whilst mating they assemble in large 

 numbers, and keep up a continual loud chatter- 

 ing noise ; they arrive at Colville in April, begin 

 nesting in May, and leave again in October. 

 The nest is in a hole in a dead pine-tree, usually 



