552 NORTH AMERICAN BIRDS. 



it, and there had young. Before they were half grown the Woodpeckers 

 returned to the place, and, despite the cries and reiterated attacks of the 

 Bluebirds, took out the young and carried them away to some distance. 

 Next, the nest itself was disposed of, the hole cleaned and enlarged, and 

 there they raised their brood. The tree was large, but so situated that Dr. 

 Bachman could reach the nest from the branches of another. The hole was 

 eighteen inches deep, and he could touch the bottom with his hand. The 

 eggs, six in number, were laid on fragments of chips expressly left by the 

 birds, and were large, white, and translucent. Before the Woodpeckers began 

 to sit, he robbed them of their eggs to see if they would lay a second time. 

 They waited a few days as if undecided, and then he heard the female at 

 work again, deepening the hole and making it broader at the bottom. She 

 soon recommenced laying, this time depositing five eggs. He suffered lier 

 to bring out her young, both birds alternately incubating, and each visiting 

 the other at intervals, looking in at the hole to see if all were right and well 

 there, and flying off afterwards in search of food. When the young were 

 old enough, he took them home and endeavored to raise them. Three 

 died, refusing all food. With two he was more successful. But even these 

 he found untamable and destructive and troublesome pecs, which he was at 

 last glad to release. 



Dr. Cooper, who observed this species in Washington Territory, discovered 

 a pair early in April on Whitby's Island, burrowing out a hole for their 

 nest in a dead trunk, about thirty feet from the ground. They worked alter- 

 nately, and were very watchful, keeping perfectly silent while they heard any 

 noise near by. He found the place by noticing chips on the bushes below, 

 and after watching silently for some time, one of them began to work, now 

 and then protruding its bill full of chips, and, after cautiously looking round, 

 dropping them. 



According to Mr. C. S. Paine, of Randolph, Vt., the Pileated Woodpecker 

 is very rare in Vermont, and extremely shy. It is difhcult to approach one 

 nearer than from fifteen to twenty rods, except by surprise. He adds that 

 in only a single instance has he been able to shoot one. This fell with a 

 broken wing. Before he could reach it, the bird commenced climbing a tree, 

 and nearly escaped. When overtaken, it fouglit furiously, and wounded Mr. 

 Paine severely in the hand, setting up at the same time a loud outcry, not 

 unlike that of a domestic hen. He has never met with its nest, although he 

 has several times seen the young when just able to leave it. The elder 

 Mr. Paine states that, some fifty years previous, this species was abundant in 

 Vermont, and not at all timid, and is of the opinion that their present shy- 

 ness is all that exempts them from extermination. 



Mr. Dresser found this Woodpecker resident and quite numerous in Texas 

 near all tlie large rivers, where the timber is heavy. A few were seen on 

 the Medina, and their eggs obtained there, but they were not abundant in 

 that district. On the Colorado and Brazos Rivers these birds were verv com- 



