liiKD Notes from Itasca Couxty 113 



44. Great Horned Owl — Bubo virginianus virginianas (Gmel.) 

 The commonest of the owls. Seen several times lin broad day- 

 light, both at rest and on the wing. Frequents the heavier tim- 

 ber, where it nests. Two young, recently out of the nest, were 

 seen. Heard only occasionally. 



45. Snowy Owl — <Nijct€a nyctea (Linn.) 



A not uncommon winter resident, which freqently causes trou- 

 ble by robbing rabbit snares and traps. 



46. Yellow-billed Cuckoo — Coccyzus americamis americanus 



(Linn.) 

 A haunter of the hard-wood thickets, the cuckoo was seen 

 only on two occasions, though its call was frequently heard dur- 

 ing rambles through the woods. A nest, probably of this species 

 (certainly a cuckoo's nest) was found, bearing signs of recent 

 occupancy. 



47. Kingfisher — Ceryl alcyon (Linn.) 



One <>f the most labundant birds of the county. Seen every- 

 where — on every lake and every river and stream — always noisy, 

 always fishiug. The nesting holes of the kingfisher were found in 

 nearly every sandy hill that afforded a suitable surface. With the 

 birds so abundant, it seems likely that they take considerable 

 toll of the fish, but there is no sign of a scarcity of fish because 

 of its ravages. (Wisconsin take note! ) 



48. Hairy Woodpecker — Dryobates villosus viUosus (Linn.) 

 Quite a common resident and breeding species. Seems to pre- 

 fer the hard-woods to the evergreens, both for breeding purposes 

 and for feeding. 



49. Downy Woodpecker — Dryobatcf. pubescens medianus (Swains.) 

 Somewhat more common than the hairy, the downy seems to 



be nearly as much at home among the evergreens as among the 

 hard-woods, though the latter are chosen for the breeding locality, 

 as a rule. Young only recently out of the nest were seen July 22. 



50. Yellow-bellied Sapsucker — Sphyrapicus varius varius (Linn.) 

 The most common of the woodpeckers, by a considerable mar- 

 gin. The hard-woods — particularly the birches and maples — show 

 abundant signs of the labors of this injurious species. Innumer- 

 able young were to be seen throughout the latter balf of July. 



51. Northern Pileated Woodpecker — Phloeotomus pileotus abietl- 



cola (Bangs.) 

 This large woodpecker was surprisingly in evidence through- 

 out the writer's stay in the woods. Seen many times, scarcely a 

 day passed without the drumming of the " cock-o'-the-woods " be- 

 ing heard. Shows a preference for the large stands of evergreens. 

 The nesting holes were frequently found, and were unmistakable 



