200 The Wilson Bulletin — No. 69. 



fooled by vigorously giving its rolling call as it flies swiftly away 

 after discovering the source of tlie calls. Nest holes are often dug 

 in trees that appear sound on the exterior but have a dead heart. 

 Four of these birds in the writer's orchard have done great service 

 in ridding the trees of insect eggs and larvfe all winter and sum- 

 mer, for they nested in trees left untrimmed for their especial 

 benefit. Some of tliem pretty regularly visited the lunch counter 

 at the house while the trees were covered with ice. 



112. Dryohatcs puhescens mcdianiis. — Northern Downy Woodpecker. 



A common and familiar resident over the whole region except the 

 small islands. It is rather more numerous in towns in winter than 

 at other times, being one of the most regular patrons of the lunch 

 counter until nesting time. It is one of the best conservers of the 

 orchai'ds where it feeds all the year and seems to prefer to uest. 

 It is among the first to respond to calls when the winter company 

 is being located, and among the last to pass on with the restless 

 host in search of other feeding places in the woods. At the lunch 

 counter it gives place only to larger birds. Several pairs nest on 

 the sand spit, one near the Lake Laboratory, and it is regularly 

 found all winter long on visits to the sand spit. I have never been 

 able to detect the least suggestion of the migratory instinct of this 

 and the former species. If actions count for individuality then it 

 seems pretty clear that individuals remain the year through iu 

 rather narrowly restricted localities. Males have bean seen occupy- 

 ing the old nest hole on winter nights, while the female was forced 

 to dig a shallow hole in a tree not far distant. Mating is in prog- 

 ress from the first warm days of January until actual nesting be- 

 gins in late April. 



113. Sphyrapiciis rarius. — Yellow-bellied 'Sapsucker. 



Usually a common migrant, casual all winter. The median date 

 of spring arrival is April G, the earliest being March 18, 19C5. The 

 period of greatest numbers is from about April 12 to May 10. The 

 last have gone north by the 21st of May. The first reach the re- 

 gion from the north during the last week in September and remain 

 about two weeks. I have repeatedly seen birds drilling holes as if 

 to nest, but none have ever been found in the region in summer. 

 When the birds are numerous for any length of time they do con- 

 siderable damage to certain species of trees, by drilling sap holes 

 in such numbers as to weaken the tree. Hop hornbeams aie at- 

 tacked with serious effect, the bleeding of the tree causing it to put 

 forth scanty foliage. White pines and spruces are also considera- 

 bly damaged by extensive drillings. I have not observed much 

 damage in the orchards, but on the contrary have some evidence 



