Jones — On Birds of Cedar Point. 201 



of help by these birds hi ridding the trees of parasites. Along the 

 sand spit, they are not as numerous in the migrations as in the main- 

 hiud woods, but are certain to be met with in season. 



114. Ceophlocus pileatus ahicticola. — Northern Pileated Woodpecker. 

 The presence of a small colony only five miles s^outheast of the 



Oberlin quadrangle saves this species from the list of extinct birds. 

 It was formerly fairly numerous in the woods of the region, and 

 probably occurred on the larger islands, but for more than a score 

 of years it has been almost unknown. There are specimens in the 

 Oberlin College museum which were collected within the present 

 limits of the town. 



115. Melaiierpes erytJiroccphalus. — Red-headed Woodpecker. 

 Often abundant during the summer, occasionally remaining all 



winter in small numbers where beech nuts are plentiful. The me- 

 dian date of arrival is April 27, the bulk arriving within a week. 

 The bulk departs about the end of the second week of September, 

 and the last by the beginning of the last week, a few straggling later, 

 even well into October. The winters of 189G-97, and 1899-00 were 

 notable for the considerable number of Red-heads which remained 

 all winter in the larger woods. I have seldom found it really nu- 

 merous on the sand spit, even during the migrations, but it is there 

 in fair numbers in spring and summer. Occasionally birds are 

 w-ashed upon the lake shore during August, which might indicate 

 a southward migration at that time. This woodpecker nests prac- 

 tically anywhere that a stick large enough for a nest hole can be 

 found standing. Fence posts are frequently used, as well as build- 

 ings, and of course, te'egrapb and telephone poles. It eats a good 

 deal of fruit in season, but also helps materially in keeping down 

 insect pests in orchards. It is an adept flycatcher, practicing this 

 habit of feeding more often in late spring and summer than other- 

 whiles. 



IIG. Ceiiturus carolvius. — Red-bellied Woodpecker. 



A tolerably common resident, slowly increasing in numbers. I 

 have not met it on the sand spit nor on any of the islands. The 

 woods on the larger Islands and at the west end of Cedar Point 

 seem to be suitable for the Red-belly, but for some reason it is ab- 

 sent. It stays pretty closely in the larger woods all the year, but 

 occasionally ventures out. It has been recorded twice in Oberlin 

 in spring. I have seen it eating acorns and beech nuts, and sus- 

 pected that it also ate other nuts and fruits. It rarely responds 

 with the other woods birds to calls, but seems to prefer its own 

 company to that of any other birds. It is unusual to find more than 

 one bird in a woods. 



