LAND BIRDS. 363 



Cock," a misnomer easily accounted for, since it is widely known as "Log- 

 cock" and of course recognized as a woodpecker. Bendire states that it 

 is also known in various parts of the country as "Black-log," "Black 

 Wood-cock," "Johnny-cock," "Wood Hen," and "Wood Chuck." He 

 states also that Mr. B. F. Gault says that in southeastern Missouri it is 

 known by the peculiar name of "Good Guard." The origin of this was 

 at first incomprehensible to us, but one of our students informs us that near 

 his home in South Carolina the bird is universally known among the negroes 

 as "Lord God," which is obviously a corruption of "Log-cock." 



According to Bendire "the ordinary call-note is a loud 'cock-cock-cock' 

 several times repeated; another resembles the 'chuck-up' of the Red- 

 shafted Flicker, only somewhat slower, louder, and clearer; others again 

 remind me of the clacking of a domestic hen." 



In Michigan the Log-cock appears to be resident wherever found, although 

 like most other woodpeckers it wanders widely in search of food. This 

 is obtained largely, if not entirely, from dead trees, and it seems not to be 

 at all material whether these are standing or fallen. With its powerful 

 beak it tears off the bark and cuts out great wedges of decaying wood, 

 thus exposing the grubs of the various beetles which are found in such 

 situations. It also feeds largely upon ants, which are likely to be found in 

 the same places, but it also resorts to the ground for these and other insects. 

 Mr. Manly Hardy, of Brewer, Me., states that he has seen one pick a large 

 hole "through two inches of frozen green hemlock to get at the hollow 

 interior, and it seemed impossible that a steel tool of the same size could 

 have done such work without being broken." 



Most observers state that this bird is very shy, but this is contradicted 

 by others. Our own experience with the species is limited, but we once 

 spent an hour in following a Log-cock which allowed us to stand within 

 twenty feet and watch him at work for many minutes at a time. 



We have few records of its nest in Michigan. A set of four fresh eggs was 

 taken from a hole two feet deep in a cherry stump, in a swamp in Al- 

 mena township, Van Buren county, April 26, 1889, by Mr. F. H. Chapin, who 

 took the female as she left the nest. Mr. Samuel Spicer of Goodrich, Gene- 

 see County, took two sets of eggs there in successive years from the same 

 pair of birds, one set containing three eggs, the other four. Both nests were 

 located in dead poplar stubs. Probably the years were 1886 and 1887, but 

 Mr. Spicer is not sure. From the fact that in Warren county. New York, 

 a nest was found with four eggs on May 15, 1878, and that C. H. Morrell 

 found four young just breaking through the shells May 28, 1895, and 

 three fresh eggs May 15, 1896, both at Pittsfield, Maine, it seems prob- 

 able that on the average May would be the most likely month for egg- 

 laying in Michigan. The eggs are pure white, unspotted, very fine 

 grained, and as glossy as if enameled. They average, according to Ridgway, 

 1.27 by .96 inches, but this includes northern and southern birds, and 

 since our northern form is decidedly larger than the southern, Michigan 

 eggs should exceed this. A single egg in our College collection, marked 

 " Lansing," and collected by Wm. K. Kedzie, measures 1.40 by 1.00 inch. 

 Probably but one brood is reared in the season. According to A. W. 

 Butler the period of incubation is about eighteen days. 



It is unnecessary to give the records of all the specimens recently taken 

 in the state, but the following may ])e mentioned: One taken at Bangor, 

 Van Buren county, in the autumn of 1897, by Frank H. Shuver; seen in 

 Emmet, Cheboygan and Charlevoix counties in August and September, 

 and in Emmet, Mackinac, Alger and Luce counties in winter (F. H. Chapin) ; 



