Wood on Nesting of Yellow-bellied Sapsucker. 57 



ing the small nodules of the pitch that has, during the pre- 

 ceding year, exuded from the tree. 

 Morgan Co., O. 



NESTING OF THE YELLOW-BELLIED SAPSUCKER. 



BY J. CLAIRE WOOD. 



I know of but two sets of eggs of this species taken in the 

 county. I was collecting birds in a thick woods on P. C. 49, 

 Ecorse township, on May 10, 1891, when I met with a party 

 of young egg collectors. Soon after I heard one calling that he 

 had found a Downy Woodpecker's nest. On being told the birds 

 were Yellow-bellied Sapsuckers, he was greatly surprised. 

 The cavity contained three fresh eggs, which he left for a 

 larger set, but there is a humorous sequel. It seems that after 

 I left a consultation was held and it was decided to take the 

 eggs for fear I might return and do a little collecting myself. 

 When the collector arrived home his father, a well known 

 oologist, decided to return at once and secure the bird in order 

 to discover, by dissection, the number of eggs that would 

 have been laid. This was done, and when he cut open the 

 bird next day, Great Caesar ! it was the male. 



This is the most abundant and noisy woodpecker of the wood- 

 lands here during April. Before the expiration of the month 

 the majority are already mated and looking for nesting sites, 

 but after drilling numerous test holes, in one case devoting 

 three days to a single excavation, they apparently feel a re- 

 newal of the migratory impulse and fade away toward the 

 north ; so when, on April 21, 1903, in Section 3; Van Buren 

 township, I saw a female drilling into a dead stub in the 

 thickest portion of a low swampy woods, I merely watched her 

 awhile and passed on without further consideration. Chancing 

 to pass the stub on May 19 I tapped it and out popped ma- 

 dame's head — the surprise was mutual. As I ascended and 

 paused at her level she remained motionless, in fact, did not 

 move until my finger was extended, when she retreated before 

 it, but paused just out of reach and proceeded to drill a hole 

 into the end. As it was withdrawn she followed closelv until 



