—51— 



40-.^. a. RED-iTAPEL SAPSUCKER, Sphyrapicus varius nu- 

 cJialis Baird. 



On the day of our arrival at Sin-yale-a-min I^ake, and on 

 the followiiig day, a pair of red-naped sapsuckers claimed quar- 

 ters along the trail near our camp, and were frequently ob- 

 served &]3ort.ng on the tree-trunks, uttering their harsh calls 

 as they flitted restlessly about their claimed domains. On 

 the second day, a party of Indian campers stationed themselves 

 near the pl;tce, and used the trail for their racing and shoot- 

 ing frolics. The sapsuckers disappeared, and we made no 

 further note« legarding the presence of this interesting species. 

 Unlike other members of the woodpecker group, this sap- 

 sucker frequents the lower story of the woods, doubtless be- 

 cp.use of its fondness for the sap-laden inner fibers of the 

 bark which it finds nearer the bases of the trunks. Its nest- 

 ing site is also much lower or nearer the ground than the av- 

 erage of those of the other woodpeckers. 



It is common in the woodlands in the vicinity of Lake Mc- 

 Douald. One specimen was taken, and it was regularly included 

 in our daily lists. Its harsh, impatient call betokens its pres- 

 ence in any neighborhood, its noisy ways being decidedly in 

 contrast with those of the three-toed woodpecker. 



A pair of red-naped sapsuckers reared a brood in the weedy 

 area in the swamp woods at the right of the mouth of Swan 

 Eiver, where specimens were frequently taken. Also frequently 

 observed in the woods east of the Helena Club grounds. 

 This species was apparently more frequently noted than either 

 the Alpine three-toed woodpecker, Cabanis's woodpecker, or 

 Batchelder's woodpecker, in the vicinity of the Station. 



405. PILEATED WOODPECKER, Ceophhens pikatvs (Linn.) 



The pileated woodpecker was not uncommon in the woods 

 near the Station, and occasionally a specimen would even visit 

 the Station grounds, uttering its loud flicker-like call from the 

 top of one of the taller trees. On August 15 a specimen was 

 taken in one of the trees on the western side of the grounds. 

 This woodpecker was frequently heard in the swamp woods 

 at the right of Swan River, and even more frequently in the 

 Helena Club grounds at the left of the river. Two specimens 

 were taken on August 87. in the woods west of the road lead- 

 ing to Daphnia Pond. Both were tapping on medium-sized 



